THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 

Rare  Book  Room 
GIFT  OF 

John  W,  Beckman 


4 


Etrtiia  JSoos.— JFronttsptm. 


"Any  thing  the  matter,  ray  lad,"  said  the  friendly  officer. 

p.  20. 


THE 


WEST  INDIA  BOYS. 


BY   THE   AUTHOR   OF 


MISS   KATY'S   LITTLE   MAID." 

1*JSW*. 

\i 

- 

•Receive  the  kingdom  of  God  as  a  little  child." 


PHILADELPHIA : 
AMERICAN    SUNDAY-SCHOOL  UNION, 

No.  1122  CHESTNUT  STREET. 


NEW    YORK:    599    BROADWAY. 


Entered,  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1863,  by  the 
AMERICAN   SUNDAY-SCHOOL  UNION, 

in  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  United  States  for 
the  Eastern  District  of  Pennsylvania. 


God  has  unconscious  ministers : 

The  lily  crown'd  with  dew, 
The  lamb,  the  vine,  the  morning  mist, 

Have  all  their  message  true. 
The  little  child's  unstudied  waya 

May  lift  our  thoughts  above, 
And  prompt  the  Christian's  heart  to  faith, 

Simplicity  and  love. 

But  lily,  lamb,  or  little  child 

No  holiness  can  claim  j 
The  earth  is  cursed,  the  soul  is  lost, 

But  for  our  Saviour's  name. 
And  yet  we  welcome  all  the  aids 

Which  round  our  path  abide, 
To  turn  our  thoughts  to  Scripture  truth 

And  point  to  Christ  our  Guide. 


1* 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  I.  PAGE 

ON  BOARD  SHIP 9 

CHAPTER  II. 
UNCLE  DIVINE 15 

CHAPTER  III. 
MR.  PENFOLD'S  OFFICE 24 

<* 

CHAPTER  IV. 
LODGINGS 35 

CHAPTER  V. 
ANXIOUS  WAITING 47 

CHAPTER  VI. 
ADRIFT 59 

CHAPTER  VII. 
"  WANTED" 65 

7 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  VIII.  PAGB 

CHINA 79 

CHAPTER  IX. 
A  LETTER...  87 


CHAPTER  X. 
THE  KNIFE...  98 


CHAPTER  XI. 
JOY...,  ..  108 


CHAPTER  XII. 
THE  SICK-ROOM..,  ....*."...  .  120 


CHAPTER  XIII. 
A  RESTING-PLACE 128 

CHAPTER  XIV. 
A  MOTHER 134 

CHAPTER  XV. 
CONCLUSION...  ,.  139 


THE 

WEST   INDIA  BOYS. 


CHAPTER  I. 

ON    BOARD   SHIP. 

ALONE  on  the  wide  sea,  a  good  ship 
Was  speeding  its  way.  Above,  the  sky 
was  all  glowing  with  the  glory  of  the 
Betting  sun ;  below,  the  waves  were 
shining  like  molten  gold.  The  hardy 
sailors  had  seen  this  beautiful  sight  too 
often  to  care  to  look  upon  it  now. 
Hither  and  thither  they  went,  all  about 
the  rolling  ship,  as  composedly  and 
steadily  as  if  they  were  at  work  in  the 
narrow  street  of  some  dusty  city. 

(9) 


10  THE   WEST    INDIA   BOYS. 

A  party  of  passengers,  too,  were  busy 
in  idle  chat,  utterly  unmindful  of  the 
grandeur  of  the  scene,  and  of  the  real 
though  invisible  presence  of  the  Great 
Creator,  in  the  midst  of  his  handiwork. 

Leaning  over  the  side  of  the  vessel 
were  two  persons,  who  were  lost  in  ad 
miration  of  the  glories  of  sea  and  sky. 
One  was  a  lad,  who  would  gladly  have 
been  thought  sixteen  years  of  age, 
though  he  was  at  least  two  years 
younger.  Raynor  Thall's  dark  eye  was 
very  bright  with  pleasure,  as  he  glanced 
now  at  the  glistening  waters,  now  at 
the  teacher  by  his  side. 

This  teacher  was  neither  gray-haired, 
nor  imposing  in  stature.  He  wore 
neither  a  long,  sweeping  coat,  nor  wise- 
looking  spectacles.  He  spoke  English 
with  tolerable  correctness,  but  with  an 
accent  that  had  about  it  a  sweet  charm. 


THE    WEST    INDIA   BOYS.  11 

which  it  is  impossible  to  describe.  To 
appreciate  it,  one  must  hear  it.  He 
was  dressed  in  a  suit  of  light-blue  cloth, 
made  with  a  kilt,  somewhat  in  Scotch 
fashion.  Over  his  shoulders  fell  a 
shower  of  golden  curls,  which  floated 
and  fluttered  in  the  evening  breeze. 
His  blue  eyes  were  large  and  gentle, 
and  his  flexible  mouth  seemed  fitted  to 
speak  words  of  love.  Now  we  have  a 
full  description  of  Benny  Thall,  one  of 
the  little  teachers  whom  God  scatters 
through  the  world,  to  give  his  older 
children  lessons  in  faith,  simplicity  and 
love. 

We  all  remember  how  our  Saviour 
took  a  little  child,  and,  placing  him  in 
the  midst  of  his  disciples,  said,  "  Except 
ye  be  converted,  and  become  as  little 
children,  ye  cannot  enter  into  the  king 
dom  of  Heaven."  Every  day  he  is 


12  THE   WEST    INDIA    BOYS. 

doing  the  same  thing  now,  if  we  will  but 
hear  his  voice,  and  learn  the  wisdom  so 
pleasantly  taught  us. 

Already  Raynor  Thall  had  "passed 
from  death  unto  life."  Already  it  was 
his  chief  desire  to  do  the  will  of  God, 
and  to  love  and  lean  upon  that  Saviour, 
for  whose  sake  he  trusted  his  name  was 
written  in  Heaven.  The  "little  leaven" 
was  working  within  him,  but  not  yet 
had  it  penetrated  and  purified  every 
part  of  his  character.  It  might  be  that 
long  years  of  sorrow  and  conflict  were 
in  store  for  him,  ere  his  proud  and  wil 
ful  spirit  would  have  the  loving  gentle 
ness  of  a  little  child. 

Raynor  had  left  his  home  in  the 
West  Indies  with  indignation  burning 
in  his  heart.  After  being  for  two  years 
a  widower,  Mr.  Thall  was  about  to  take 
unto  himself  a  young  and  pretty  wife, 


THE    WEST    INDIA   BOYS.  13 

a  proceeding  of  which  Raynor  had 
openly  expressed  his  disapprobation. 
Under  these  circumstances,  the  father 
had  consented  to  Raynor' s  making  a 
long  promised  visit  to  his  uncle, — his 
mother's  only  brother.  Raynor  insisted 
upon  having  Benny  for  the  companion 
of  his  journey,  and  Mr.  Thall  reluc 
tantly  consented. 

Raynor  was  cut  off  from  the  wise 
counsel  of  his  father,  but  he  had  with 
him  a  teacher  from  whom  he  might 
well  learn  the  very  lessons  he  needed 
most.  Would  he  prove  a  willing  pupil, 
gathering  much  wisdom  from  his  un 
conscious  guide  ? 

The  golden  glory  faded  from  the  sky, 
and  night  and  stillness  enwrapped  the 
good  ship.  On,  on  it  went,  no  eye  but 
the  All-seeing  to  track  its  steady  course. 
On  it  went,  nearing  the  haven.  Soon, 
2 


14  THE    WEST    INDIA    BOYS. 

very  soon,  the  sailor  would  set  his  foot 
on  his  native  shore. 

Each  human  soul  is  like  that  lone 
ship  on  the  silent  sea.  Some  haven  we 
are  nearing.  Will  glad  greetings  await 
us  on  "  the  Shining  Shore  ?"  Are  we 
"  Homeward  Bound  ?"  Will  our  dying 
lips  breathe  this  glad  song  ? 

"  Into  the  harbour  of  Heaven  we  now  glide, 

We  're  home  at  last ; 
Softly  we  drift  on  its  bright  silver  tide, 

We  're  home  at  last ; 
Glory  to  God !  all  our  dangers  are  o'  er, 
We  stand  secure  on  the  glorified  shore. 
Glory  to  God !  we  will  shout  evermore, 

We're  home  at  last." 


THE   WEST   INDIA   BOYS.  15 


CHAPTER  II. 

UNCLE    DEVINE. 

OUR  West  India  boys  had  been  safely 
landed  on  the  dock  of  an  Atlantic  city. 
The  party  of  travellers,  who  had  had 
them  in  charge,  saw  them  safely  at  a 
hotel,  and  then  were  whirled  away  in 
the  swift  cars,  towards  a  distant  inland 
town. 

As  the  ship  made  port  in  the  even 
ing,  Raynor  thought  it  best  to  pass  the 
night  at  the  hotel,  and  seek  his  uncle 
in  the  morning.  He  stated  his  views 
with  such  dignity  and  decision,  that  his 
escort  supposed  his  plan  was  probably 
the  best,  under  circumstances  of  which 
they  were  ignorant. 


16  THE   WEST    INDIA   BOYS. 

A  good  night's  rest  on  land,  after  the 
tossing  of  the  restless  ocean !  There  is 
a  world  of  comfort  in  that  single  sen 
tence  !  Say  what  you  will  about  being 
"rocked  in  the  cradle  of  the  deep,"  it 
is  delightful  to  have  a  motionless  floor 
under  you,  and  a  nice,  wide  bed  of 
your  own,  after  even  three  or  four 
nights  on  board  ship. 

Raynor  and  Benny  had  enjoyed  some 
of  this  sound,  refreshing  sleep,  and  now 
were  making  ready  for  breakfast.  Ray 
nor  had  been  dressing  his  little  brother. 
This  was  a  new  business  for  Raynor, 
and  yet  he  had  fairly  coaxed  every 
button  through  its  appropriate  button 
hole,  and  dexterously  pinned  on  a  clean 
collar.  Benny  had  not  uttered  a  word 
of  complaint,  though  he  had  been  han 
dled  more  as  if  he  were  a  wooden 


THE   WEST   INDIA   BOYS.  17 

image,  than  a  creature  of  flesh  and 
blood,  capable  of  feeling  and  suffering. 

"What  shall  I  do  with  your  hair?" 
said  Raynor,  in  despair.  As  he  spoke, 
he  strove  to  twine  round  his  unskilful 
finger  the  long,  light  lock  he  held  in 
his  hand. 

Benny's  small,  round  face  seemed  in 
a  cloud  of  golden  glory,  for  Raynor's 
thorough  combing  had  set  every  hair  at 
variance  with  its  neighbour.  Truly,  it 
was  a  puzzling  question,  but  Benny  did 
not  find  it  hard  to  answer. 

"  Cut  it  off!  Cut  it  off!  That  will 
be  the  best  way,"  said  Benny. 

"What!  All  your  pretty  curls?" 
was  the  doubting  reply,  while  Raynor 
still  held  the  single  tress  he  had  re 
duced  to  comparative  order. 

"  Yes  !  All !  Every  one  !  I  'm  going 
to  be  a  great  boy,  now.  I  shan  't  want 

2* 


18  THE   WEST    INDIA   BOYS. 

them,"  said  Benny,  valorously  handing 
his  brother  the  scissors. 

Snip  !  Snip  !  went  the  scissors,  nowT 
close  to  Benny's  white  skin,  now  some 
inches  away.  Raynor  was  not  the  most 
skilful  of  barbers,  and  yet  he  seemed 
well  pleased  with  his  work.  On  he 
went,  turning  the  little  fellow's  head 
round,  from  time  to  time,  to  see  how  its 
two  sides  were  likely  to  correspond. 
"  Mated,  not  matched,"  they  certainly 
were. 

There  lay  the  heap  of  golden  curls, 
and  there  stood  Benny,  a  wonderful 
monument  of  the  youthful  barber's  art. 
Eaynor  had  not  used  a  "pumpkin  to 
cut  by,  and  keep  all  even,"  as  they  did 
in  the  olden  times  in  New  England,  but 
the  boys  were  satisfied,  and  there  was 
no  one  at  hand  to  differ  from  them. 

A  few  strokes  of  a  wet  brush  com- 


THE   WEST   INDIA   BOYS.  19 

pleted  Benny's  toilet,  and  then  the 
brothers  went  down  stairs  together. 

It  was  a  pleasure  to  Raynor  to  be  in 
the  large  dining-room  of  the  hotel — quite 
his  own  master.  The  waiters  in  his 
neighbourhood  had  no  reason  to  com 
plain  of  want  of  exercise,  that  morning. 

Breakfast  over,  Raynor  left  his  trunk 
at  the  hotel,  as  the  most  gentlemanly 
course,  and,  taking  his  brother  by  the 
hand,  he  set  off  in  search  of  his  uncle. 
Raynor  had  no  doubt  of  a  cordial  re 
ception,  for  the  frequent  letters  which 
had  passed  between  his  mother  and  this 
pet  only  brother,  had  been  of  a  partic 
ularly  free  and  affectionate  character. 
He  had  doubtless  received  Mr.  Thall's 
announcement  of  the  intended  visit  of 
his  nephews,  though  sufficient  time  had 
not  elapsed  for  them  to  receive  an  as 
surance  of  welcome  before  starting. 


20  THE   WEST   INDIA   BOYS. 

The  house  of  Mr.  Devine  was  in  a 
handsome,  well-known  street,  and  the 
boys  had  no  difficulty  in  finding  it  at 
once.  The  brown-stone  front  looked 
dreary  enough.  Every  shutter  was 
closed,  and  a  convincing  "  to  let,"  on 
the  door,  assured  the  children  that  here, 
at  least,  they  should  not  find  the  friend 
they  sought. 

As  the  boys  stood  irresolutely  on  the 
door-step,  a  policeman  happened  to  pass. 
"  Anything  the  matter,  my  lad  ?"  said 
the  friendly  officer. 

"  We  came  to  see  our  uncle,  Mr. 
Peter  Devine,  but  this  paper  says  the 
house  is  to  let,  and  we  don't  know 
where  to  look  for  him,  as  we  are  stran 
gers  in  the  city,"  said  Raynor,  in  his 
own  manly,  direct  way. 

"  Mr.  Peter  Devine,  child  !  Why,  he 
has  been  dead  these  four  weeks  !  An 


THE   WEST   INDIA   BOYS.  21 

old  bachelor ; — walked  with  a  cane.  Mr. 
Peter  Devine.  Rich,  he  was.  He  left 
his  money  to  the  Societies,  I've  heard 
say.  Did  you  expect  to  stop  with  him? 
Where 's  your  baggage  ?"  The  officer 
did  not  forget  his  usual  way  of  making 
sure  that  he  heard  the  truth. 

"  Our  trunk  is  at  the  hotel.  We  got 
in  from  the  West  Indies,  last  evening, 
and  so  thought  we  would  wait  to  see 
our  uncle  in  the  morning,"  said  Raynor. 

"You  can't  see  him  in  tins  world, 
my  boy.  Have  you  any  other  friends 
in  the  city  ?"  said  the  policeman. 

"  I  have  a  letter  to  Mr.  Joshua  Pen- 
fold,  a  business  acquaintance  of  my 
father's."  As  Raynor  spoke,  he  was 
trying  to  subdue  the  choking  in  his 
throat,  which  threatened  to  overthrow 
the  manliness  which  was  his  especial 
pride. 


22  THE    WEST    INDIA    BOYS. 

"  Got  it  with  you  ?"  persevered  the 
policeman,  intent  upon  convincing  him 
self  that  the  boy  was  truthful. 

Eaynor  drew  out  his  pocket-book, 
and  produced  the  letter. 

"All  right.  Joshua  Penfold.  All 
right.  I'll  put  you  into  an  omnibus, 
that  will  take  you  straight  to  his  office." 

Before  Raynor  had  time  to  think 
what  he  was  to  say  to  this  stranger,  he 
found  himself  in  an  omnibus,  rolling 
rapidly  towards  Mr.  Peiifold's  place  of 
business. 

Benny  had  kept  tight  hold  of  Ray- 
nor's  hand,  but  continued  silent.  He 
had  no  uneasiness  as  to  their  future,  but 
was  wholly  taken  up  with  the  idea  that 
his  uncle  was  dead,  and  he  would  not  be 
able  to  put  his  arm  round  his  neck,  as 
he  had  planned,  and  tell  him  he  meant 
to  love  him  like  his  own  dear  father. 


THE   WEST   INDIA   BOYS.  23 

"  How  glad  mother  will  be  to  see  her 
brother!"  thought  Benny.  This  con 
soling  reflection  so  far  dispersed  the  sad 
thoughts  of  the  child,  that  he  was  soon 
ready  to  be  amused  by  the  strange 
sights  and  sounds  of  the  busy  city. 
His  little  head  was  in  perpetual  motion, 
bobbing  now  this  way,  now  that  way, 
as  he  was  borne  past  alluring  shop  win 
dows,  and  foot-passengers  in  every  pos 
sible  costume.  Of  course,  Ray  nor  was 
called  upon  to  share  all  this  curious  de 
light,  and  was  so  implored  to  "look 
here!"  and  "look  there!"  that  he  had 
but  just  made  up  his  mind  what  to  say 
to  Mr.  Penfold,  when  the  omnibus  came 
to  a  halt,  on  the  very  spot  which  the 
policeman  had  indicated. 


24  THE  WEST   INDIA   BOYS. 


CHAPTER  III. 

MR.   PENFOLD. 

MR.  PENFOLD' s  office  was  by  no  means 
the  centre  of  importance  in  the  great 
building  where  it  was  located.  Up 
three  pairs  of  stairs  Raynor  climbed,  find 
ing,  at  every  landing,  a  hand  still  point 
ing  him  onward,  if  he  would  see  Joshua 
Penfold.  The  glass  door  of  Mr.  Pen- 
fold's  quarters  was  reached  at  last. 
There  was  no  such  thing  as  catching  a 
glimpse  of  the  gentleman,  before  facing 
him  fairly.  The  faded,  green  baize  cur 
tain,  veiled  him  from  curious  eyes. 

Raynor  knocked  decidedly,  as  much 
to  give  himself  courage,  as  to  inspire 


THE   WEST    INDIA    BOYS.  25 

Benny  with  the  notion  that  he  felt 
quite  at  home  in  that  dark,  dirty  entry. 

"  Come  in !"  said  a  gruff  voice. 

Mr.  Penfold  was  sitting  at  his  desk. 
He  did  not  get  up  to  give  the  boys  the 
benefit  of  a  full  view  of  his  person,  but, 
peering  above  the* sheet  of  paper  he 
held  in  his  hand,  they  saw  a  small, 
round,  red  face,  brightened  by  a  pair  of 
spectacles,  through  which  looked  as 
keen  gray  eyes  as  ever  scrutinized  a 
new-comer. 

"  Mr.  Penfold,  I  suppose,"  said  Ray- 
nor,  going  forward,  in  a  gentlemanly 
way.  "  My  name  is  Raynor  ThalL 
You  have  had  some  business  dealings 
with  my  father,  I  believe.  Here  is  a 
letter  for  you,  from  him." 

Raynor  presented  his  letter,  and  Mr. 
Penfold  opened  and  read  it,  without 
another  word. 

3 


26       THE  WEST  INDIA  BOYS. 

It  would  have  been  a  useless  courtesy 
to  ask  the  boys  to  sit  down,  as  Mr. 
Penfold's  stool  was  the  only  seat  in  the 
room. 

The  letter  was  very  short;  Raynor 
could  see  that,  from  where  he  stood; 
yet  Mr.  Penfold  read  it  over  and  over, 
as  if  to  be  sure  to  master  the  contents. 

"  Well,  boy !  you  want  to  find  your 
uncle,"  said  Mr.  Penfold,  at  last. 

"  He  is  dead,  and  they  have  put  up 
6 to  let'  on  his  house.  We  have  been 
there,"  said  Raynor,  in  a  voice  more 
tremulous  than  he  could  have  wished. 

"  Then  I  don 't  see  what  good  I  can 
do  you.  I  can't  look  up  your  dead 
uncle,"  said  Mr.  Penfold,  rather  sharply. 

Raynor  hushed  his  wounded  pride, 
and  asked  :  "  My  father's  letter,  what 
does  it  say  ?" 


THE    WEST    INDIA    BOYS.  27 

MR.  PENFOLD  : 

Dear  Sir: — The  bearer,  my  son  Raynor,  is  a 
stranger  in  your  city ;  if  he  should  have  any  diffi 
culty  in  finding  his  uncle,  Mr.  Peter  Devine,  I 
have  given  him  this  note,  asking  your  assistance 
in  pointing  out  the  residence  of  Mr.  Devine,  who 
is  a  well-known  citizen  of  your  metropolis.  Ex 
cuse  my  presuming  on  our  slight  acquaintance  to 
ask  this  favour.  Yours,  truly, 

S.  D.  THALL. 

Mr.  Penfold  read  the  letter  aloud, 
then  carefully  folded  it,  and  put  it  back 
into  the  envelope. 

"  I  never  knew  Mr.  Devine.  I  could 
not  help  you  as  much  as  the  directory 
could.  But,  since  the  man  is  dead,  I 
don't  see  that  I,  or  it,  can  do  you  any 
good.  Were  you  going  to  stay  with 
this  Mr.  Devine  ?" 

"  We  came  from  the  West  Indies,  ex 
pecting  to  spend  some  time  with  him," 
said  Raynor. 


28  THE   WEST   INDIA   BOYS. 

"Why  didn't  you  stay  at  home?" 
said  Mr.  Penfold. 

Eaynor  blushed  up  to  his  eyes,  as  he 
answered,  "  My  father  is  going  to  be 
married,  and  we  came  to  stay  awhile 
with  Mr.  Devine,  who  was  my  mother's 
brother." 

"  Did  he  know  you  were  coming  ?" 
said  the  questioner. 

"  My  father  wrote  to  him,  but  we  did 
not  wait  to  hear  from  him.  We  did  not 
think  about  his  dying,"  said  Raynor, 
with  some  embarrassment. 

"  Not  a  runaway !  The  letter  proves 
that.  Turned  adrift,  more  likely,"  said 
Mr.  Penfold  to  himself,  while  he  in 
wardly  entertained  thoughts  not  par 
ticularly  favourable  to  Mr.  Thall. 

"You  had  better  write  at  once  to 
your  father,  and  tell  him  how  matters 
stand  here ;  or,  perhaps  it  would  be  as 


THE   WEST   INDIA  BOYS.  29 

well  to  take  ship  and  go  right  back 
where  you  came  from."  As  Mr.  Pen- 
fold  spoke,  he  looked  into  Raynor' s  face 
more  penetratingly  than  before. 

Go  back  just  in  time  for  the  mar 
riage  !  Go  back,  when  he  was  sure  that 
his  father  thought  his  absence,  for 
awhile,  at  least,  would  be  desirable ! 
Raynor  could  not  for  a  moment  think 
of  such  a  step.  He  would  at  least 
write,  and  ask  what  course  he  had  bet 
ter  take.  "  I  will  write  to  my  father  as 

soon  as  I  get  back  to  the House," 

said  Raynor,  trying  to  be  manly.  "  If 
I  had  known  the  contents  of  that  let- 
ter,  I  should  not  have  brought  it  here, 
as  I  see  you  can  be  of  no  service  to  me." 

"  So  !  So !  Maybe  you've  not  wasted 
your  time,"  said  Mr.  Penfold.  "  You 
are  staying  at  a  hotel,  then.  I  suppose 
you  have  plenty  of  money.  That's  a 

3* 


30  THE    WEST    INDIA   BOYS. 

dear  way  of  living.  No  half-price  ibr 
children,  if  they  go  to  the  table.  Four 
dollars  a  day,  at  least,  for  the  two ;  that 
runs  up  fast." 

"  Do  they  charge  as  much  as  that  ?" 
said  Raynor,  anxiously, 

"  That  they  do,  and  strangers,  boys 
especially,  won 't  be  likely  to  have  long 
credit.  How  much  have  you  with  you  ?" 

There  was  something  in  Mr.  Penfold's 
way  half  friendly  and  half  impertinent, 
but  Raynor  could  not  choose  but  answer 
his  questions. 

"  Only  twenty-five  dollars,"  said  Ray 
nor,  opening  his  pockei>book,  and  show 
ing  his  funds,  all  in  gold. 

"  You  'd  better  leave  the  hotel,  at 
once,"  said  Mr.  Penfold,  decidedly. 

"  I  shouldn  't  know  where  to  go,"  said 
Raynor,  looking  very  young  and  inex 
perienced,  as  he  spoke. 


THE   WEST    INDIA   BOYS.  31 

"  I'll  find  you  suitable  lodgings.  It 
is  as  well  you  came  to  me,  though  you 
don't  see  it  in  that  light,"  said  Mr.  Pen- 
fold.  "Now  you  had  better  go  and 
write  to  your  father.  Or  stop,  you  may 
write  here,  at  my  desk,  if  you  want  to, 
and  I'll  see  that  the  letter  gets  into  the 
office.  They  are  apt  to  be  careless  at 
those  hotels." 

Raynor  mounted  the  high  stool.  He 
was  not  ashamed  of  his  hand-writing, 
nor  had  he  reason  to  be ;  yet  he  hesi 
tated  to  put  his  pen  to  the  paper.  How 
should  he  tell  his  father  that  he  was 
friendless  in  the  great  city,  so  far  from 
his  home  ? 

Raynor's  letter  was  short  and  cold, 
simply  stating  the  fact  of  his  uncle's 
death,  and  asking  what  he  was  to  do, 
under  the  circumstances. 

Raynor  was  folding  the  letter,  when 


32  THE   WEST   INDIA   BOYS. 

Benny,  for  the  first  time,  spoke.  "  Give 
my  best  love  to  dear  father,  and  tell 
him  this  is  a  beautiful  place,  but  uncle 
is  dead,  and  we  could  not  love  him  as 
our  dear  father,  as  we  meant  to.  Tell 
him  about  this  kind  gentleman,  too." 

As  Benny  spoke,  he  walked  straight 
up  to  Mr.  Penfold,  and  laid  his  little, 
soft  hand  in  that  of  the  keen-eyed 
stranger. 

Benny  had  been  studying  Mr.  Pen- 
fold's  face,  in  his  own  quiet,  unconscious 
way,  and  this  was  the  result. 

Mr.  Penfold's  fingers  did  not  grasp 
Benny's,  but  another  great,  red  hand 
came  down  upon  his.  "Now  I've 
caught  you !"  said  Mr.  Penfold.  "  I  've 
shut  your  little  hand  up  in  my  box." 

"You'll  let  me  out,"  said  Benny, 
looking  up,  trustfully. 

"  How  do  you  know  I  will  ?     Maybe 


THE   WEST   INDIA   BOYS.  33 

I  am  a  dreadful  man,  and  eat  up  little 
boys,"  said  Mr.  Penfold,  showing  his 
teeth  alarmingly. 

"You  won't  eat  me"  said  Benny, 
drawing  near  to  the  man  with  the  teeth, 
and  laying  fearlessly  hold  of  his  full 
trowsers. 

"Well,  I  believe  I  won't  eat  you," 
said  Mr.  Penfold,  with  a  kindly  look  at 
Benny.  "But  Raynor  had  better  be 
have  himself,  or  I  can't  promise  about 
him." 

"  He  always  behaves  himself,"  said 
Benny,  confidently. 

"  Well,  we  '11  see  what  kind  of  a  let 
ter  he  has  been  writing."  Mr.  Penfold 
put  out  his  hand  for  the  letter,  as  if 
his  reading  it  were  a  matter  of  course, 
though  it  had  by  no  means  been  the  in 
tention  of  the  writer  that  he  should. 

Raynor  silently  gave  the  letter  to 


34  THE   WEST    INDIA   BOYS. 

Mr.  Penfold ;  then,  taking  Benny  by  the 
hand,  he  said  :  "  You  will  see  that  it 
is  safely  put  in  the  office,  sir.  I  shall 
be  much  obliged  to  you  for  that,  as  I 
am  a  stranger." 

"  About  the  lodgings  ?"  said  Mr.  Pen- 
fold,  without  looking  at  the  letter. 

"I'll  see  you  in  the  morning.  

House,  you  say?  Well,  I'll  find  you 
there."  " 

Kay  nor  only  bowed  as  he  took  leave, 
but  Benny  put  out  his  hand.  This 
time  it  had  a  hearty  shake,  and  Benny's 
"  good-bye  "  was  cordially  returned. 


THE   WEST   INDIA   BOYS.  35 


CHAPTER  IY. 

LODGINGS. 

KAYNOR  had  no  fears  lest  Mr.  Penfold 
should  not  be  true  to  his  appointment. 
In  spite  of  his  bluntness  and  curiosity, 
he  was  evidently  interested  in  the  boys, 
and  inclined  to  take  them  under  his 
protection. 

Raynor  had  been  for  an  hour  at  the 
window,  watching  for  the  carriage  which 
was  to  bear  him  to  his  new  quarters. 
Carriage  after  carriage  had  driven  up 
to  the  hotel,  but  no  Mr.  Penfold  had 
alighted  from  any  of  them. 

A  knock  at  Raynor's  door  called  him 
from  his  post  of  observation,  and  sent 


36  THE    WEST    INDIA    BOYS. 

Benny  on  a  "hop-skip-and-jump"  to  see 
who  the  new-comer  could  be. 

"Mr.  Penfold!  I'm  so  glad!"  said 
Benny,  seizing  the  great,  red  hand, 
which  was  hanging  at  Mr.  Penfold's 
side.  The  hand  was  not  withdrawn, 
and  Benny  led  the  stranger  up  to  Ray- 
nor,  as  triumphantly  as  if  he  had  been 
the  captive  of  his  own  bow  and  spear. 

"All  packed!  That's  right!"  said 
Mr.  Penfold,  seeing  the  trunk,  ready 
strapped,  and  placed  near  the  door. 
"Here,  Max!" 

Mr.  Penfold  put  his  head  into  the 
entry,  as  he  spoke  the  last  words. 

Thus  summoned,  a  clumsy  German 
appeared,  and  took  up  the  trunk. 

"  You  puts  it  in  the  vagin ;"  said  Mr. 
Penfold,  trying  to  adapt  his  language  to 
the  person  addressed. 

The  German  gave    an  appreciative 


THE    WEST    INDIA    BOYS.  37 

grant,  and  then  disappeared,  with  the 
trunk  on  his  shoulders. 

"  Now,  boys  !  Hats  on  !  Forward, 
march !"  said  Mr.  Penfold,  obeying  his 
own  orders  with  great  promptness. 
Raynor  and  Benny  followed  his  exam 
ple,  but,  midway  down  the  entry,  the 
captain  ordered  a  halt,  and  suddenly 
asked  Kaynor  whether  he  had  "  settled 
up, — paid  his  bill,  and  left  all  clear?" 

"  Certainly,  sir,"  said  Raynor,  in  his 
most  dignified  style. 

"I'll  look  at  the  bill,  and  see  that  it 
is  all  right."  Mr.  Penfold  put  out  his 
hand  as  he  spoke. 

Raynor  was  forced  to  produce  his 
pocket-book,  and  give  up  the  receipt 
for  inspection. 

"  Correct !  Ehem !  Dear  living  for 
boys  !"  were  Mr.  Penfold's  comments,  as 
he  returned  the  slip  of  paper  to  Raynor. 


38  THE    WEST    INDIA   BOYS. 

Mr.  Penfold  seemed  inclined  to  lead 
his  procession  along  the  street  single- 
file,  and  with  strict  military  regulations, 
so  far  as  conversation  was  concerned. 
Benny,  however,  had  too  much  to  say, 
and  too  many  questions  to  ask  about  all 
he  saw,  for  any  such  plan  to  be  carried 
out,  unless  by  special  orders.  Mr.  Pen- 
fold  had  kept  silence  many  a  time  amid 
the  attacks  of  the  most  talkative  peo 
ple,  but  he  was  not  proof  against  Ben 
ny's  winning  ways,  and  the  two  were 
soon  walking  side  by  side,  chatting  most 
confidentially.  Raynor,  meanwhile,  si 
lently  brought  up  the  rear. 

Out  of  the  noisy  thoroughfare,  along 
quiet  streets  they  passed,  Raynor  won 
dering  whether  he  was  to  find  his  new 
home  in  each  fresh  row  of  pleasant 
dwellings. 


THE    WEST    INDIA    BOYS.  39 

Straight  on  went  Mr.  Penfold,  look 
ing  neither  to  the  right  nor  the  left. 

The  blocks  of  stately  buildings  were 
all  left  behind,  and  the  boys  found  them 
selves  in  a  wide  street,  bordered  by  in 
numerable  little  shops,  where  more 
thread  and  needles  and  small  fancy  ar 
ticles  seemed  to  be  on  sale  than  could 
be  wanted  in  all  the  city.  Yet,  some 
body  must  buy,  or  those  patient  shop 
keepers  would  not  be,  day  after  day, 
behind  those  counters.  They  must  be 
kept  alive  by  bread  and  butter,  earned 
just  where  these  people  were  always  to 
be  found. 

At  the  window  of  one  of  these  shops, 
Benny  made  a  decided  stand.  "Oh, 
Mr.  Penfold,  just  stop  a  moment!"  he 
exclaimed.  "  There 's  such  a  beautiful 
dog  in  here — a  dog  with  a  squeak  to 
him.  I  wish  I  could  make  it  go  !" 


40  THE   WEST    INDIA   BOYS. 

Mr.  Penfold  was  not  a  judge  of  toys. 
He  could  not  share  in  Benny's  delight 
at  the  black  and  white  mastiff,  who  was 
ready  to  "  squeak,"  as  Benny  had  said, 
if  but  some  skilful  thumbs  and  fingers 
could  get  hold  of  him.  Yet,  in  front 
of  the  shop  Mr.  Penfold  stopped,  and 
looked  round  as  if  to  be  sure  that  Ray- 
nor  was  close  at  hand. 

In  the  door-way  stood  Max,  evidently 
on  the  look-out  for  the  party,  but,  as 
soon  as  they  came  in  sight,  he  mysteri 
ously  disappeared  into  the  back  shop, 
and  was  not  seen  again  that  morning. 

"  May  I  just  go  in  and  look  at  the 
doggy?"  said  Benny,  emboldened  by 
the  decided  halt. 

"Yes!  We'll  all  go  in.  Here's  our 
place,"  said  Mr.  Penfold.  "  Come,  Ray- 
nor,  I  suppose  you  '11  be  glad  to  go  right 
up  stairs,  and  get  settled,  at  once." 


THE   WEST    INDIA   BOYS.  41 

Raynor  was  in  the  midst  of  his  over 
whelming  astonishment,  when  a  woman 
came  out  of  the  door  through  which 
Max  had  disappeared. 

She,  too,  was  German.  Her  broad, 
flat  face,  bright  blue  eyes,  and  fair  hair, 
told  their  own  story.  She  had  none  of 
the  shyness  of  Max,  however,  to  keep 
her  from  making  use  of  what  English 
she  knew. 

«  Mr.  Penfold  !  Goot  morget !  Glad 
dese  boys  to  see.  I  will  up  stairs,  show 
you.  All  is  ready.  Come  !" 

The  woman  put  out  her  hand  to 
Benny  as  she  spoke,  and  smiled  so 
pleasantly  upon  him  that  he  was  sure 
he  had  found  a  friend.  Raynor  sur 
veyed  the  great  braids  of  yellow  hair 
that  were  coiled  on  the  back  of  her 
head.  He  scanned  her  neat  plaid,  stuff 
dress,  and  her  white,  gatherless  apron, 

4* 


42  THE    WEST    INDIA    BOYS.. 

of  stout  linen,  with  as  much  dissatis 
faction  as  if  there  were  really  any  fault 
to  be  found  with  them.  Benny,  mean 
while,  walked  as  contentedly  at  her  side 
as  if  she  had  been  a  duchess. 

Mr.  Penfold  did  not  trouble  himself 
to  look  at  the  boys.  He  was  making 
his  own  observations  on  the  neatness 
of  the  little  sitting-room,  back  of  the 
shop,  and  sniffing  approvingly  the  steam 
of  some  savoury  stew  that  was  cooking 
in  the  kitchen  adjoining.  An  onion 
stew ;  Eaynor  was  sure  it  was,  and  it 
was  plain,  from  his  expression,  that  his 
taste  and  Mr.  Penfold's  did  not  coincide 
in  this,  better  than  in  some  other  mat 
ters. 

Eaynor  could  hardly  believe  it  pos 
sible  that  these  were  the  lodgings  Mr. 
Penfold  had  selected  for  him,  Raynor 
Thall!  Yet,  so  it  must  be.  Up  the 


THE   WEST    INDIA    BOYS.  .43 

narrow  staircase  he  was  led,  and  then 
ushered  into  a  small  bed-room,  the  very 
picture  of  homeliness  and  neatness  com 
bined.  There  stood  his  trunk,  the 
straps  unfastened,  as  if  it  were  at  home, 
though  its  owner  did  not  feel  himself  so. 

"  Here,  Raynor.  Here 's  your  room. 
I  was  lucky  to  get  you  in  here.  It 
popped  into  my  head  after  you  went 
out,  yesterday.  Mrs.  Waller  and  I  are 
old  friends.  I  knew  her  before  she 
knew  Max,"  said  Mr.  Penfold. 

Raynor  made  no  reply.  He  remem 
bered  the  elegance  of  his  father's  house, 
and  was  inclined  to  say  that  this  was 
no  suitable  place  for  him.  Mr.  Penfold 
did  not  appear  to  see  Raynor's  look  of 
dissatisfaction,  but  Mrs.  Waller's  plea 
sant  face  was  suddenly  overclouded. 
She  glanced  round  the  room,  as  if  to 
find  out  the  offending  item.  Then  pat- 


44  THE   WEST   INDIA   BOYS. 

ting  the  soft  bed,  she  said,  "  You  like 
fedders— not?" 

"  I  never  tried  a  feather  bed.  I  dare 
say  I  shall  like  it  very  well,"  said  Ray 
nor,  endeavouring  to  be  polite 

Benny  looked  questioningly  at  Ray- 
nor.  He  saw  something  was  amiss,  but 
could  not  think  what  it  could  be. 
Jumping  on  to  the  bed,  he  sank  deep 
into  its  centre,  and,  looking  out  from 
his  valley,  he  exclaimed  :  "  It 's  so  nice, 
Raynor !  I  am  sure  you  will  like  fed 
ders  r  Raynor  could  not  help  smiling. 

"  I  dare  say  Raynor  will  be  pleased 
with  everything,"  said  Mr.  Penfold, 
"  and  Benny  will  find  a  warm  nest  any 
where." 

"  Yes,  Mr.  Penfold  actually  stooped 
down  and  kissed  Benny  as  he  spoke! 
Then,  as  if  half  ashamed  of  what  he 
had  done,  he  nodded  to  Raynor  and 


THE   WEST   INDIA   BOYS.  45 

left  the  room.  Mrs.  Waller  folio  wed, 
and  the  brothers  were  alone. 

Benny  at  once  discovered  that  the 
trunk,  with  its  long  straps,  was  a  capi 
tal  horse,  and  was  soon  off  on  some 
imaginary  journey,  while  Raynor  was 
left  to  his  own  thoughts.  Those  thoughts 
were  far  from  pleasant.  Raynor  felt 
angry  with  Mr.  Penfold  for  choosing 
such  lodgings  for  him ;  angry  with  his 
father  for  allowing  him  to  leave  home, 
and  half  angry  with  Benny  for  being 
so  contented  with  his  new  quarters  and 
new  friends. 

"  It  will  be  only  for  a  little  while," 
Raynor  at  length  said  to  himself. 
"  When  my  father's  letter  comes,  he 
will  provide  a  suitable  place  for  us,  or 
we  shall  go  home." 

Go  home !  That  was  a  cheering 
thought  to  Raynor.  lie  was  already 


46  THE    WEST    INDIA    BOYS. 

weary  of  independence,  and  would 
gladly  have  been  a  child  again,  in  his 
father's  house.  At  that  moment  he 
would  have  sat  down  to  table  much 
more  readily  with  the  new  Mrs.  Thall? 
than  with  Mrs.  Waller  and  Max. 


THE  WEST  INDIA  BOYS.      47 


CHAPTER  Y. 

ANXIOUS  WAITING. 

RAYNOR  THALL  had  been  accustomed, 
from  childhood,  to  have  negro  servants 
about  him,  and  had  never  been  in  any 
way  thrown  into  the  society  of  white 
people  who  lacked  education  and  refine 
ment.  On  Max  "Waller  and  bis  wife  he 
looked  with  secret  disdain,  fancying 
that  he  was  made  of  a  material  far  su 
perior  to  any  employed  in  their  compo 
sition.  The  idea  of  associating  with 
them,  from  day  to  day,  on  terms  of  any 
thing  like  equality,  was  terrible  to  him. 
He  made  up  his  mind  at  once,  that  go 
down  to  dinner  he  could  not.  He 
would  certainly  rather  go  without  a 


48  THE   WEST    INDIA    BOYS. 

meal,  than  take  it  in  such  company. 
When,  therefore,  Mrs.  Waller  knocked 
at  his  door,  to  say  that  dinner  was 
ready,  he  gave  Benny's  hair  a  hasty 
brushing,  and  sent  him  off  with  the 
German  woman,  while  he  remained  to 
unpack  the  trunk,  not  feeling  like  eai> 
ing,  just  then,  he  said. 

Eaynor's  absence  did  not  seem  to  de 
stroy  either  the  appetites  or  the  cheer 
fulness  of  the  party  below,  for  he  could 
hear  the  rattling  of  dishes,  as  in  fre 
quent  circulation,  mingled  with  the 
constant  sound  of  voices  in  pleasant 
chat. 

Presently  Benny's  little  feet  were 
heard  coming  up  the  stairs.  "  Do  come, 
Kaynor,"  he  said.  "There  is  such  a 
nice  pudding.  I  am  sure  you  would 
like  it." 

Raynor  had  felt  symptoms  of  a  gnaw- 


THE    WEST    INDIA    BOYS.  49 

ing  faintness  coming  over  him  for  the 
last  quarter  of  an  hour,  and  so  had  his 
own  reasons  for  letting  Benny  lead  him 
down  to  the  "  sitting-room,"  where  the 
family  were  gathered. 

"  Mr.  Raynor,  you  sits  here,"  said 
Mrs.  Waller,  politely  giving  him  a  seat. 
"  You  know  Max.  This  Pierre  is,  who 
has  the  room  by  you." 

Raynor  silently  took  the  offered 
chair,  and  bowed  to  the  person  to  whom 
he  was  introduced. 

Pierre  was  a  little,  thin,  dark  man, 
with  a  few  black  curls  bordering  on  the 
bald  centre  of  his  round  head.  He  had 
but  to  speak  to  show  that  he  was  a 
Frenchman,  as  yet  imperfectly  ac 
quainted  with  our  language.  His  hands 
were  small,  and  kept  with  care,  though 
too  deeply  stained  in  several  places  to 
be  cleansed  by  the  faithful  washing 


50  THE   WEST    INDIA   BOYS. 

they  had  lately  undergone.  His  eyes 
were  black  and  full  of  intelligence,  and 
he  looked  from  Raynor  to  Benny,  as  if 
somewhat  puzzled  to  know  how  they 
came  to  be  in  his  company. 

Benny  was  seated  at  Mrs.  Waller's 
side,  his  face  perfectly  beaming  with 
satisfaction,  as  she  bent  over  him  with 
kind,  motherly  care,  providing  for  his 
wants,  and  giving  him  hints  as  to  his 
behaviour.  "  How  can  Benny  be  so  at 
home,  here  !"  thought  Ray  nor.  ."  He  is 
a  child, — he  don 't  mind  what  I  do." 

Raynor  had  not  been  without  instruc 
tion  in  Holy  Scripture.  His  mind  had 
been  imbued  with  its  leading  truths. 
The  text — "  Except  ye  be  converted, 
and  become  as  little  children,  ye  cannot 
enter  into  the  kingdom  of  Heaven," 
flashed  through  Raynor's  mind.  Would 
not  a  right  feeling  make  him  forget  all 


THE   WEST   INDIA   BOYS.  51 

distinctions,  and  feel  warm  and  kind  to 
those  around  him  ?  Had  not  God  made 
every  member  of  this  humble  family  ? 
Were  they  not  all  dear  to  Him  ?  At 
the  last  great  day  of  account,  what  dif 
ference  would  there  be  betwixt  Raynor 
Thall  and  Max  Waller  ?  He  would  try 
to  be  like  Benny,  forgetful  of  all  differ 
ence  of  worldly  circumstances,  and  be 
loving  and  kind  in  heart  and  manner. 

While  these  thoughts  passed  through 
Raynor's  mind,  the  saucer  of  pudding 
was  standing  untouched  before  him. 

"  You  will  eat — not  ?"  said  Mrs.  Wal 
ler,  her  face  all  full  of  anxious  inquiry. 

"I  am  going  to  begin,  now,"  said 
Raynor,  "  and  you  shall  see  I  have  not 
lost  my  appetite." 

Mrs.  Waller's  face  was  in  a  moment 
bright  with  smiles.  Raynor's  changed 


52  THE   WEST    INDIA    BOYS. 

manner  was  like  the  publication  of  a 
truee  after  war. 

The  little  Frenchman  scrutinized 
Raynor  more  narrowly  than  before ; 
then  shook  his  head,  as  if  quite  uncer 
tain  what  to  think  of  his  new  fellow- 
lodger. 

This  uncertainty  continued  in  the 
minds  of  the  whole  family  for  many 
days.  At  times  Raynor  was  cold  and 
haughty  in  his  whole  deportment,  then 
he  would  break  out  into  a  genial,  kind 
way,  like  sunshine  after  storm.  Pierre 
and  the  Wallers  little  understood  that 
this  was  the  struggle  between  the  boy's 
own  proud  nature,  and  his  desire  to  be 
the  follower  of  the  meek  and  lowly 
Jesus. 

Apart  from  this  conflict,  it  was  not 
strange  that  Raynor  was  variable,  and 
by  no  means  a  pleasant  companion. 


THE   WEST   INDIA   BOYS.  53 

Long  before  it  was  possible  for  him  to 
receive  an  answer  to  the  letter  which 
he  had  written  to  his  father,  he  began 
to  visit  the  Post  Office,  daily,  in  quest 
of  a  reply.  Disappointment  succeeded 
disappointment,  until  Raynor  fairly 
dreaded  to  hear  the  unvarying  "nothing 
for  you !"  which  followed  his  eager  in 
quiries.  Benny,  meanwhile,  having  no 
anxiety  for  the  future,  was  full  of  joy. 
Max  suffered  him  to  fumble  among  his 
stores  of  buttons,  and  to  make  the  black 
and  white  dog  "  squeak,"  to  his  heart's 
content.  Mrs.  Waller  watched  over  the 
child  as  tenderly  as  if  he  had  been  her 
own,  and,  save  the  occasional  pain  at 
seeing  Raynor  so  worried,  Benny  was 
in  continual  glee. 

"Why  can't  I  enjoy  myself,  too? 
There  is  enough  in  the  city  for  me  to 
see,  to  make  every  day  pass  pleasantly 


54  THE   WEST    INDIA   BOYS. 

while  I  am  waiting  for  my  letter."  So 
Raynor  would  say  to  himself.  Yet  he 
had  not  the  child-like  confidence  in 
God,  which  would  have  made  him  leave 
all  his  future  in  the  hands  of  his  Heav 
enly  Father,  while  he  cheerfully  ac 
cepted  the  little  joys  of  the  present 
hour.  So  the  anxious  days  and  weeks 
crept  by. 

The  money  in  Raynor's  pocket-book 
grew  less  and  less.  He  denied  himself 
every  unnecessary  indulgence,  and,  in 
deed,  hardly  spent  a  cent,  from  the  time 
he  paid  Mrs.  Waller,  on  one  Saturday 
night,  until  the  next  came  round. 

The  twenty-five  dollars  were  all  gone, 
at  last,  and  no  letter  had  yet  arrived. 
Mr.  Penfold  had  not  been  seen  at  the 
Wallers  since  the  day  he  had  placed 
the  children  there. 

What  was  to  be  done  ?     Raynor  re- 


THE    WEST    INDIA   BOYS.  55 

solved  to  put  on  the  best  possible  face, 
under  his  difficulties.  He  met  Mrs. 
Waller  on  the  landing,  as  he  went  up 
to  bed,  on  Saturday  night. 

"I  am  expecting  a  letter  from  my 
father,  containing  money.  It  has  not 
come,  so  I  shall  not  be  able  to  pay  you 
now,"  said  Raynor,  in  as  calm  a  man 
ner  as  he  could  command. 

"  We  can  wait.  We  want  it  not,  yet," 
said  Mrs.  Waller,  kindly. 

As  Eaynor  entered  his  door,  he  saw 
Pierre  coming  up  stairs.  He  must  have 
heard  the  conversation.  This  was  an 
annoyance  to  Raynor,  and  he  slammed 
the  door  of  his  room  most  impatiently. 

To  and  fro  in  the  small  bed-chamber 
walked  Raynor,  biting  his  lips  and 
clenching  his  hands,  as  if  to  bid  defi 
ance  to  some  invisible  enemy. 


56  THE    WEST    INDIA   BOYS. 

A  pair  of  wide-open  blue  eyes  were 
looking  at  him  from  the  bed.  "  What 
is  the  matter,  Raynor?  Are  you  sick?" 
said  Benny. 

"Sick!  No!"  said  Raynor.  "But 
there 's  matter  enough.  Father  has  for 
gotten  all  about  us.  He  don 't  write  to 
us,  and  my  money  is  all  gone,  and  I 
don't  see  what  to  do!  There!  I've 
told  you  all,  and  now  I  'm  sorry.  Don 't 
feel  bad,  Benny." 

"I  don't  feel  bad,"  said  Benny, 
cheerily.  "I  know  father  hasn't  for 
gotten  about  us.  Why,  we  are  his  boys 
and  he  loves  us !  And  then,  if  you 
want  money,  why  don't  you  ask  God 
for  it?" 

Raynor  was  silent  a  moment.  He 
would  have  given  much  for  the  trust 
that  made  Benny  so  sure  that  his 


THE    WEST    INDIA   BOYS.  57 

earthly  father  still  loved  them,  and 
even  more  for  that  faith  which  had 
prompted  the  question  of  the  child. 

"  Well,  well.  Go  to  sleep,  Benny.  I 
dare  say  you  are  right,"  was  Raynor's 
reply. 

Benny  put  his  head  down  on  the  pil 
low,  and  sank  into  as  sweet  a  sleep  as 
if  there  were  no  such  thing  in  the  world 
as  care. 

That  night  Raynor  sat  up  late, 
writing  another  letter  to  his  father. 
The  first  might  have  miscarried;  he 
would  trust  yet  a  little  longer.  When 
Raynor  knelt  for  his  evening  prayer,  he 
had  many  sins  to  confess.  He  had  been 
so  impatient,  so  unreasonable  of  late, 
so  anxious  for  the  future,  so  little  re 
membering  the  sure  Protector  who  was 
ever  watching  over  him.  He  did  not 


58  THE   WEST    INDIA   BOYS. 

ask  for  the  money  he  needed ;  he  had 
yet  to  learn  much  of  that  faith  which 
takes  God  even  at  his  word,  and  seeks 
from  him  not  only  daily  bread,  but 
whatsoever  is  needed  "  as  well  for  the 
body  as  the  soul." 


THE   WEST   INDIA   BOYS.  59 


CHAPTER  VI. 

ADRIFT. 

FOUR  more  weeks  had  passed  away, 
and  as  yet  there  had  been  no  letter 
for  Raynor.  Saturday  night  had  come 
again. 

"  I  am  very  sorry  I  cannot  pay  you, 
Mrs.  Waller,"  said  Raynor,  holding  him 
self  very  stiffly,  while  an  unbidden  tear 
glistened  in  his  young  eyes. 

"  We  have  the  money.  Mr.  Penfold 
has  us  paid.  He  said  '  make  comfort- 
able  the  boys,  and  all  would  be  recht,' " 
said  Mrs.  Waller,  with  more  than  her 
usual  kindness  of  manner.  "  Dear  lit 
tle  Benny !  It  seem  anybody  must  to 


60  THE   WEST    INDIA   BOYS. 

love  him !  Mr.  Raynor,  will  you  have 
little  fire  in  your  room,  in  morgen  ?" 

The  good  woman  evidently  pitied  her 
lodger,  and  was  anxious  to  do  some 
thing  special  to  show  her  sympathy. 

"  Mr.  Penfold  paid  you !"  said  Ray 
nor,  without  answering  her  question. 
"I'll  see  him  on  Monday." 

On  Monday  morning  Raynor  was 
early  at  Mr.  Penfold's  office.  The  little 
man  was  there,  bending  over  his  papers 
as  busily  as  ever.  He  put  up  his  spec 
tacles  when  he  saw  that  Raynor  was 
his  visitor,  and  really  met  the  boy  with 
unmistakable  cordiality. 

"  You  paid  our  board  for  us !"  said 
Raynor,  bluntly.  "  I  did  not  think  you 
would  be  so  kind.  I  hope  I  shall  be 
able  to  pay  you.  My  father  has  not 
written.  I  don't  like  to  think  so — but 


THE    WEST    INDIA    BOYS.  61 

I  can't  think  why  he  don't  write.  He 
wouldn  't  forsake  us  ! 

"  Shame  on  him !  Shame  on  him !  He 
lias  just  set  you  adrift !  I  thought  so, 
from  the  first!"  said  Mr.  Penfold, 
warmly.  "  Marrying  makes  men  inhu 
man.  I  never  married !  I  never  mean 
to!  How's  the  little  boy?  Does  he 
know  about  it  ?  How  does  he  take  it  ?" 

"  He  will  not  believe  that  father  has 
given  us  up.  He  loves  them  all  at  Mrs. 
Waller's,  and  is  very  happy." 

"That's  what  it  is  to  be  a  child! 
Pity  more  of  us  were  not  children !" 
said  Mr.  Penfold. 

Raynor  thought  of  the  Christian 
spirit  which  gives  to  the  character  all 
that  is  beautiful  in  childhood,  but  he  felt 
he  was  far,  far  from  that  genuine  temper 
of  love  and  trust.  Even  now  he  was 
filled  with  burning  indignation  against 


62  THE   WEST    INDIA   BOYS. 

his  father,  and  of  shame  that  strangers 
should  know  how  he  was  cast  off. 

"What  shall  I  do,  Mr.  Penfold? 
Things  can 't  go  on  so !  I  shall  have  to 
earn  my  living,  some  way,"  said  Eay- 
nor,  speaking  very  rapidly. 

"  That 's  right !  That  sounds  manly !" 
said  Mr.  Penfold,  warmly.  "You've 
got  your  home,  for  the  present.  I've 
nobody  to  claim  what  I  earn,  so  I  can 
see  after  you  till  you  can  do  for  your 
self.  Mind  you  don 't  let  the  little  fel 
low  want  for  anything.  The  weather 
is  getting  cold.  I  must  tell  Mrs.  Waller 
to  see  that  he  is  dressed  warm  enough." 

"  She  has  been  working  for  him  for 
several  days,  and  has  a  warm  suit  done 
for  him,"  said  Raynor,  blushing.  "I 
knew  what  she  was  doing,  but  I  could 
not  say  a  word  to  her  about  it.  It  made 
me  feel,  oh !  so  ashamed !"  Raynor 


THE    WEST    INDIA  BOYS.  63 

leaned  on  the  desk,  and  covered  his 
face  with  his  hands. 

"  She  is  none  the  worse  off  for  what 
she  has  done.  Why,  I  make  no  doubt- 
she  has  been  using  up  something  out  of 
that  great  chest  she  brought  from  Ger 
many.  Why,  those  Germans  seem  to 
think,  when  they  come  here,  they  are 
coming  to  a  wilderness,  where  you  could 
not  buy  a  yard  of  stout  cloth  for  love 
or  money.  Such  stores  of  homespun 
as  they  load  up  their  chests  with  !  You 
like  Mrs.  Waller,  don't  you  ?" 

Ray  nor  remembered  his  pride,  that 
had  so  set  him  against  the  good  woman, 
and  he  answered,  "  Not  half  as  well  as 
I  ought.  She  is  as  kind  to  Benny  as  if 
she  had  nursed  him  all  her  life.  But — 
Mr.  Penfold,  what  can  I  do  ?" 

"  You  must  look  about  and  find  some 
thing  to  do." 


64  THE    WEST    INDIA    BOYS. 

The  door  opened  at  this  moment,  and 
three  strangers  came  in.  "  There,  Bay- 
nor,  you  will  have  to  go  now/'  said  Mr. 
Penfold.  "  Keep  a  bright  look-out,  and 
you'll  find  what  you  are  to  do,  before 
long." 


THE   WEST   INDIA   BOYS.  65 


CHAPTER  VII. 

"WANTED." 

THE  free  Reading-room  in  — —  street 
was  open,  as  usual,  one  dull  November 
morning.  Comfortable  men  of 'business 
had  stopped  in  to  learn  the  news  before 
getting  into  the  hurry  and  turmoil  of 
"down-town."  Young  men,  out  of  a 
place,  were  whiling  away  their  spare 
hours,  looking  over  the  late  magazines. 
Here  and  there  a  clumsy  fellow,  in  his 
working  dress,  was  passing  his  finger 
slowly  up  and  down  the  columns,  on 
which  were  fixed  his  puzzled,  anxious 
eyes. 

Securely  fastened  in  their  places  were 
the  morning  papers.  Round  them  gath- 

6* 


66  THE    WEST    INDIA   BOYS. 

ered  eager  groups,  looking  over  each 
other's  shoulders,  and  quietly  elbowing 
nearer  and  nearer  to  the  open  sheets. 
In  one  of  these  groups  stood  a  slender 
lad,  about  fourteen  years  of  age.  Close 
to  the  reading-stand  he  had  secured  a 
position,  while  others  were  able  to  see 
over  his  head.  Not  on  the  news  from 
the  seat  of  war,  not  on  stocks  or  ex 
changes,  not  on  stinging  editorials,  did 
he  fix  his  eyes.  No  item,  however  in 
teresting,  could  win  from  him  a  mo 
ment's  attention,  unless  he  could  see 
the  significant  word  "  Wanted,"  over 
it.  Coachmen  and  teachers,  agents 
for  quack-medicines,  and  incompara 
ble  books, — seamstresses  and  cooks, — 
five  hundred  saddlers  and  four  hun 
dred  ship-carpenters,  might  all  hope  to 
find  pay  and  employment,  by  promptly 
answering  the  various  advertisements. 


THE    WEST    INDIA    BOYS.  67 

Of  this  there  could  be  no  doubt,  but  no 
one  made  known  his  need  of  a  boy, 
quite  unaccustomed  to  work  of  all  kind/ 
and  who  could  boast  no  other  stock  in 
trade  than  such  an  English  education 
as  could  be  acquired  by  very  irregular 
attendance  at  a  moderately  good  school, 
for  the  last  five  years. 

From  stand  to  stand  went  Raynor, 
slowly  making  his  round,  until  he  had 
fairly  mastered  the  "  wan  teds  "  in  every 
daily  journal.  On  a  slip  of  paper  he 

J 

had  made  a  minute  of  such  advertise 
ments  as  might  in  any  way  suit  his  pur 
pose. 

The  first,  and  most  promising  on  the 
list,  was  an  advertisement  for  "  a  young 
clerk,  of  good  character,  anxious  to 
learn  the  wholesale  shoe  and  leather 
business." 

After  much  difficulty,  Raynor  found 


68  THE   WEST   INDIA   BOYS. 

the  great  building  where  he  was  told  to 
apply.  The  very  air  of  the  long  room 
into  which  he  stepped,  on  opening  the 
door,  seemed  to  stifle  him,  but  that  was 
not  half  as  bad  as  the  contemptuous 
manner  in  which  his  application  was 
treated.  His  whole  story  was  forced 
out  of  him,  by  way  of  a  "character," 
and  then  he  was  advised  to  take  him 
self  off,  as  soon  as  possible,  as  it  was 
not  likely  that  a  boy  whose  father  did 
not  care  for  him  would  be  of  much  use 
to  anybody  else. 

In  spite  of  this  discouraging  begin 
ning,  Raynor  went  regularly  through 
his  whole  list.  His  perseverance  did 
not  insure  success.  Just  such  a  boy  as 
he  was,  nobody  seemed  to  want. 

Thoroughly  disheartened,  Raynor 
went  home  at  evening,  having  con- 


THE    WEST    INDIA    BOYS.  69 

sumed  the  whole  day  in  his  fruitless 
search. 

Max  Waller  could  not  bear  to  speak 
English.  He  never  uttered  a  word  of 
it,  when  signs  would  answer  the  same 
purpose,  and  it  was  astonishing  how  sel 
dom  he  was  obliged  to  open  his  mouth. 
His  customers  soon  learned  to  under 
stand  his  peculiarity,  and  were  often 
amused  at  his  ready  ways  of  avoiding 
making  himself  heard  in  broken  Eng 
lish.  Raynor  and  Max  had  gotten  on 
very  slowly  in  their  acquaintance.  Our 
young  friend  was  therefore  much  sur 
prised,  when  Max  met  him  at  the  door, 
on  his  return  from  his  day  of  annoy 
ances. 

"  Goot !  Goot !"  said  the  honest  Ger 
man,  taking  him  by  the  hand,  and  de 
livering  him  up  to  Mrs.  Waller,  much 
as  if  he  had  been  a  led  horse.  The 


70  THE    WEST    INDIA   BOYS. 

"sitting-room"  was  lighted,  and  the 
supper-table  laid  with  its  usual  neat 
ness.  Pierre  was  "  drawing  pictures " 
for  Benny,  on  the  slate,  while  Mrs.  Wal 
ler  had  been  sitting  near  them,  with 
her  sewing. 

Pierre  might  have  been  a  Michael 
Angelo  or  Kaphael,  for  all  Benny  cared, 
at  that  moment.  The  most  celebrated 
painter  in  the  world  could  not  have 
kept  his  attention,  when  Raynor's  face 
appeared  at  the  door.  Benny  sprang 
into  his  brother's  arms,  saying,  "You 
didn't  come  home!  You  didn't  have 
any  dinner !  I  saved  some  of  mine  for 
you,  but  Mrs.  Waller  made  me  eat  it. 
She  has  yours,  all  nice  and  warm,  for 
you,  and  we  wouldn't  have  tea  till  you 
came  home.  Pierre  has  made  me  beau 
tiful  pictures.  He  draws  almost  as  well 
as  you  do.  Come  and  see." 


THE    WEST    INDIA   BOYS,  71 

Raynor  looked  with  much  indiffer 
ence  at  the  cows  and  horses  on  the 
slate,  though  they  were  admirably  done. 
He  felt  too  weary  and  disappointed  to 
interest  himself  in  the  little  fellow's 
pleasure. 

Benny's  hand  passed  over  the  slate, 
in  a  minute,  and  horses  and  cows  van 
ished.  "  You  don 't  like  them,  but  you 
would  like  Pierre's  ship.  Please  make 
another  ship,  Pierre.  La  Gloire,  with 
the  banners  all  flying,  just  as  you  made 
it  fop  me." 

"  Not  yets,  Benny.  Not  yets,"  said 
Mrs.  Waller.  "  We  must  tea  have. 
Raynor  must  to  eat,  recht  soon." 

On  Raynor's  plate  was  not  an  as- 
sorted  dinner,  each  little  mess  of  meat 
or  vegetables  dried  into  a  separate, 
tasteless  crustiness,  by  standing  for 
hours  in  a  stove-oven.  Before  him  was 


72  THE   WEST    INDIA    BOYS. 

a  freshly-broiled  bird,  and  Mrs.  Waller's 
kind  eyes  sparkled  as  she  saw  how 
keenly  the  boy  enjoyed  it. 

After  supper,  Pierre  brought  down  a 
set  of  prettily-carved  chess-men,  and 
proposed  to  teach  Kaynor  the  game. 
Raynor  shook  his  head.  He  did  not 
feel  like  playing  games. 

"  Take  pinch  tabac  ?"  said  Pierre, 
offering  to  Raynor  the  snuff-box,  which 
was  his  own  peculiar  consolation.  Ray 
nor  could  not  help  smiling,  as  he  re 
fused  the  well-meant  courtesy.  The 
little  Frenchman  was  evidently  doing 
his  best,  by  way  of  a  comforter. 

Mrs.  Waller  was  keeping  her  work 
carefully  in  her  lap.  Raynor  could  see 
that  she  was  putting  in  a  new  bosorn 
to  one  of  his  shirts,  and  strove  to  hide 
her  labour  of  love.  The  boy's  proud 
heart  was  touched.  The  very  people 


THE    WEST    INDIA    BOYS.  73 

upon  whom  he  had  looked  down,  in  his 
fancied  superiority,  were  full  of  delicate 
kindness  to  him  in  his  misfortunes. 
God  had  sent  him  friends,  where  he  had 
the  least  right  or  reason  to  expect  them. 
How  he  longed  to  tell  them  all  the  an 
noyances  and  disappointments  of  his 
weary  day.  His  burden  would  seem 
lighter,  if  he  could  but  share  it. 

"  Where  have  you  been  to-day  ?"  said 
Benny,  as  if  reading  his  brother's 
thoughts. 

Mrs.  Waller  looked  up  inquiringly, 
and  Pierre  laid  down  the  boat  he  was 
whittling  for  Benny. 

"It  will  worry  you  to  hear,"  said 
Raynor,  gazing  doubtfully  into  the  little 
face,  turned  up  to  his. 

"  Nothing  worries  me.  Somebody 
always  takes  care  of  good  little  boys. 

7 


74  THE   WEST   INDIA    BOYS. 

We  don't  have  to  worry.     Do  we,  Mrs. 
Waller  ?"  said  Benny. 

Mrs.  Waller  could  not  trust  herself 
on  such  a  subject  in  English.  She  ten 
derly  drew  Benny  to  her  side,  arid 
nodded  her  agreement  with  him,  while 
she  sang  one  of  her  simple  German 
hymns,  of  which  we  give  a  translation. 

God's  little  lambs  may  skip  and  play, 

Without  one  anxious  care, 
Their  gentle  Shepherd  leads  the  way 

To  pastures  green  and  fair. 
Nor  wolf,  nor  cold,  nor  scorching  heat 

Shall  do  these  lambs  despite, 
By  day  He  guides  their  willing  feet, 

And  watches  them  by  night. 

"  You  tell !  You  tell !  We  all  want 
to  hear,  don 't  we  ?"  said  Benny,  looking 
first  at  Raynor,  then  at  Mrs.  Waller  and 
Pierre. 

"  If  Mr.  Raynor  likes,  we  would  like. 


THE   WEST    INDIA    BOYS.  75 

Pierre  is  good  to  boys,"  said  Mrs.  Wal 
ler. 

Thus  encouraged,  Raynor  gave  a  full 
account  of  the  mischances  of  the  day. 

Benny  drew  closer  and  closer  to  his 
side  as  he  went  on.  Eaynor  did  not 
see  his  eyes  filling  with  tears,  and  was 
utterly  surprised  when  a  sudden  sob  on 
the  part  of  the  child  closed  up  the  ac 
count  of  his  anxious  interviews. 

"  Why,  Benny  !  I  ought  not  to  have 
told  all  this  before  you !"  said  Raynor, 
catching  up  his  brother  in  his  arms. 

Sob  after  sob  came  from  Benny,  and 
Raynor  was  puzzled  how  to  comfort  him. 

"  God  loves  Benny.  God  will  take 
care  !"  said  Mrs.  Waller,  wiping  her  own 
eyes. 

"I  don't  cry  for  Benny!"  said  the 
little  fellow,  lifting  his  head.  "God 
will  take  care  of  Benny,  and  Raynor 


76  THE    WEST    INDIA   BOYS. 

too.  But — but — people  were  cross  to 
Raynor — and — and — "  Here  the  child 
began  to  cry  again.  After  a  moment  he 
lifted  his  head  and  said,  "  Why  don 't 
you  write  more  letters  to  father,  Ray 
nor  ?  He  never  got  the  ones  you  sent." 

"  I  shall  write  no  more  letters  to  fa 
ther  !"  said  Raynor,  with  bitter  decision. 

"  Poor  father  !  Benny  must  write  to 
tell  him  how  his  boys  do/'  said  the 
child,  with  unshaken  trust.  "  You  shall 
read  my  letter,  when  I  get  it ;  that  will 
be  nice,  won 't  it  ?" 

Raynor  could  not  bear  to  cloud  the 
momentary  sunshine  which  had  come 
over  Benny's  face,  so  he  answered, 
evasively,  "  I  should  like  to  read  a  nice 
long  letter  to  you ;  but  come,  I  '11  go  up 
to  bed  with  you,  now." 

Benny  kissed  Pierre  and  Mrs.  Waller 
"good-night,"  as  affectionately  as  if  they 


THE    WEST    INDIA    BOYS.  77 

were  the  dear  friends  of  his  infancy, 
and  then  suffered  himself  to  be  led  up 
stairs. 

"  I  am  sorry  I  made  you  feel  badly/' 
said  Raynor,  after  Benny  was  in  bed. 
"  I  didn  't  mind  anything  much.  That 
is,  I  don't  mind  it  now.  Everybody  is 
very  kind  to  us,  here.  God  has  given 
us  good  friends,  and  I  am  sure  he  will 
take  care  of  us,  Benny ;  but  you  know 
I  am  a  big  boy,  and  I  want  to  work.  I 
shall  try,  until  I  find  something  to  do, 
but  you  must  not  ask  me  every  day 
where  I  have  been.  You  are  too  little 
to  understand  about  such  things.  When 
you  are  older,  you  will  know.  You  will 
see  that  what  I  say  is  best." 

"  Yes.  I  won't  ask,"  said  Benny.  "  I 
am  sure  God  will  take  care  of  us." 

Ray  nor  held  the  soft  little  hand  that 
lay  in  his,  until  Benny  was  fast  asleep. 


78  THE   WEST    INDIA   BOYS. 

Then  the  elder  brother  knelt  at  the  bed 
side,  and  poured  out  his  full  heart  in 
prayer.  He  had  taken  home  the  lesson 
he  had  been  giving  the  child.  He  could 
not  now  tell  why  these  troubles  had 
come  upon  him.  God  had  sent  them 
for  some  wise  purpose,  which  perhaps 
he  should  one  day  know.  He  would 
not  ask,  but  bear  them  patiently,  com 
forting  himself  with  the  assurance  that 
God  was  certainly  his  friend.  Never 
had  Raynor  Thall  drawn  so  near  to 
God,  as  that  night  when  he  knelt  so 
long  in  his  silent,  solitary  room. 


THE   WEST   INDIA   BOYS.  79 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

CHINA. 

RAYNOR'S  long  days  out  in  search  of 
employment  made  the  more  welcome 
the  kind  reception  he  ever  met  on  his 
return.  He  soon  learned  to  have  a 
smile  for  Benny,  and  a  tale  of  some 
wonderful  dogs  and  horses  he  had  seen 
in  his  walks,  to  turn  off  the  child's  at 
tention  from  the  real  subject  of  his 
brother's  thoughts.  After  Benny  was 
fast  asleep,  Raynor  relieved  his  mind 
by  telling  Mrs.  Waller  and  Pierre  of  his 
vain  efforts,  and  various  rebuffs. 

After  one  particularly  trying  day, 
Pierre  said,  quickly,  "You  go  out  no 


80  THE   WEST    INDIA   BOYS. 

more.     I  will  teach  you.     In  the  even 
ing.     You  see.     Go  no  more." 

That  night  found  Pierre  with  one  of 
Mrs.  Waller's  white  saucer,s  laid  on  the 
table  before  him,  while  in  front  of  Ray- 
nor  was  another.  Each  had  a  small 
brush  in  his  hand.  Patiently,  very  pa 
tiently,  Pierre  was  teaching  Ray  nor  to 
trace  with  a  steady  movement  a  simple 
pattern  on  the  dish  before  him.  Again 
and  again  the  red  lines  were  rubbed  out, 
before  Pierre  was  at  all  satisfied  with 
his  pupil's  success.  At  length  the 
teacher  clapped  his  hands,  and  fairly 
frisked  round  the  room,  in  default  of 
English  to  express  his  hearty  approval. 

Raynor  went  no  more  out  to  seek 
employment.  All  day  long  he  was  busy 
with  his  brush  and  saucer,  tracing  new 
designs,  to  be  subjected  to  Pierre's  criti 
cism,  in  the  evening. 


THE    WEST    INDIA    BOYS.  81 

Several  weeks  passed  in  this  way,  be 
fore  Pierre  ventured  to  take  Kaynor 
with  him  to  his  place  of  daily  labour. 
Raynor  was  silent,  as  he  walked  through 
the  busy  streets.  He  was  too  anxious 
to  care  to  talk.  Pierre's  eyes  sparkled, 
and  there  was  a  sprightliness  about  his 
movements  that  was  extraordinary  in  a 
man  of  his  age.  He  actually  skipped 
along  the  road,  in  his  glee,  while  Ray 
nor  strode  on  demurely  at  his  side. 

At  a  large  and  splendid  China  store 
they  stopped.  Passing  through  a  glass 
door,  they  were  at  once  in  the  midst  of 
a  splendid  display  of  vases,  and  dishes 
of  the  most  beautiful  forms  and  ex 
quisite  colouring.  At  another  time, 
Raynor  would  have  been  glad  to  linger 
and  admire,  but  now  he  passed  on  with 
a  palpitating  heart.  Pierre  led  the  way 
to  a  stair-case,  at  the  other  end  of  the 


82  THE   WEST    INDIA   BOYS. 

store.  Up  many  flights  of  stairs  they 
climbed,  until  they  came  to  a  light,  up 
per  room,  where  a  number  of  men  were 
busily  engaged  at  a  long  shelf  or  table. 
Raynor  silently  took  a  seat  at  the  table, 
beside  Pierre,  and  was  soon  as  busy  as 
the  rest. 

On  the  long  table  in  front  of  the  win 
dows  were  placed  various  drawings  and 
models,  while  each  workman  held  in  his 
hand  some  dish,  on  which  he  was  copy 
ing  the  design  from  the  pattern  before 
him.  One  man  was  renewing  the  co 
louring  of  a  landscape  on  the  side  of  a 
beautiful  vase.  Another  was  carefully 
executing  a  coat  of  arms  in  the  centre 
of  a  porcelain  plate.  Eaynor  was  sur 
prised  to  see  several  of  the  men  paint 
ing  fine  China  in  lines  of  a  dark,  reddish 
brown.  He  remarked  to  Pierre,  in  a 
low  voice,  that  he  wondered  that  was 


THE   WEST    INDIA  BOYS.  83 

such  a  favourite  colour,  as  it  did  not 
strike  him  as  pretty. 

"  Dat  comes  out  of  de  oven  bright 
gold,"  said  Pierre,  smiling.  "Dark 
when  he  goes  in,  he  shines  when  he 
been  baked." 

"  Gold !"  said  Raynor,  to  himself. 
"  Gold  !"  Was  Raynor  reminded  of  the 
humble  friends  whom  he  had  despised, 
who  had  been  to  him  the  true  gold 
when  his  troubles  were  thick  around 
him?  Would  he  ever  learn  that  the 
best  treasures  are  sometimes  hidden 
under  the  most  homely  exterior  ? 

Raynor's  work  was  simple,  but  he 
bestowed  upon  it  as  much  pains  as  if  it 
were  the  most  difficult  of  patterns. 
Pierre  watched  him,  from  time  to  time, 
with  satisfaction,  and  when  the  dish 
was  done  at  last,  the  Frenchman  rose 


84  THE    WEST    INDIA    BOYS. 

from  his  seat,  and  disappeared  with  it 
in  his  hand. 

Raynor  was  very  anxious  during 
Pierre's  absence.  He  knew  that  Pierre 
had  taken  it  to  the  person  who  had  the 
charge  of  this  part  of  the  establishment, 
and  that  in  a  few  moments  he  should 
know  whether  he  would  be  likely  to 
find  employment  here. 

A  young  man  near  Raynor  hummed 
a  few  notes  of  a  tune,  as  he  surveyed 
for  the  moment  his  own  completed 
work.  The  tune  at  once  suggested  to 
Raynor  the  words  of  a  familiar  hymn, 
which  had  been  a  favourite  with  his 
mother. 

"When  troubles  assail,  and  dangers  affright, 
Though  friends  should  all  fail,  and  foes  all  unite, 
Yet  one  thing  secures  us,  whatever  betide, 
The  Scripture  assures  us,  the  Lord  will  provide!" 

The  Lord  will  provide !  This  thought 


THE   WEST   INDIA    BOYS.  85 

calmed  Baynor's  anxiety  at  once.  He 
could  not  tell  whether  he  was  to  be  suc 
cessful  in  this  attempt,  but  he  would 
lean  trustfully  on  his  Heavenly  Father, 
and  calmly  await  the  result. 

Kaynor's  neighbour  had  no  idea  that 
he  was  doing  either  good  or  harm.  He 
but  suffered  to  pass  his  lips  a  few  notes 
of  a  sacred  melody,  and  lo !  the  tiny 
seed  had  already  sprung  up  and  borne 
its  blessed  fruit,  in  the  stirring  of  a 
cheerful  faith  in  Raynor's  heart.  The 
songs  we  idly  sing,  the  words  we  care 
lessly  speak,  may  be  like  the  Devil's 
whispers,  promptings  to  evil;  or  they 
may  be  even  as  angel  voices,  encou 
raging  some  human  soul  in  its  upward 
path. 

Pierre's  face  was  perfectly  beaming 
on  his  return.  The  little,  dark  man,  in 
his  worn-out  coat,  looked  almost  beau- 

8 


86  THE   WEST   INDIA   BOYS. 

tiful  in   Raynor's  eyes,  for  he  was  a 
friend,  bearing  good  tidings. 

Yes,  Raynor  Thall  had  the  promise 
of  daily  employment  at  Pierre's  side, 
employment  for  which  he  was  to  receive 
good  and  regular  wages.  The  boy  was 
not  only  delighted,  he  was  deeply  grate 
ful,  not  only  to  his  Heavenly  Friend, 
but  to  the  humble  man  who  had  shown 
such  a  hearty  interest  in  his  welfare. 


THE   WEST   INDIA   BOYS.  87 


CHAPTER  IX. 

A   LETTER. 

BENNY  missed  his  brother  sadly,  after 
having  had  him  so  long  for  a  constant 
companion.  He,  however,  hit  upon  a 
new  source  of  amusement.  He  became 
the  author  of  numerous  letters.  Not  that 
Benny  knew  how  to  write.  He  could 
not  even  print  letters,  as  many  children 
can,  but  that  did  not  interfere  with  his 
enjoyment.  He  would  sit  for  hours, 
with  a  pencil  in  his  hand,  tracing  ir 
regular  lines  on  a  piece  of  paper,  while 
he  spoke  aloud  what  he  supposed  him 
self  to  be  writing.  Many  a  time  he 
laughed  heartily  at  some  of  his  commu 
nications,  and  often  Mrs.  Waller,  from 


88  THE    WEST    INDIA   BOYS. 

the  other  side  of  the  room,  echoed  his 
merriment. 

It  was  to  his  "father"  that  Benny 
was  always  writing,  giving  him  the  most 
faithful  pictures  of  his  daily  life,  telling 
him  of  all  his  little  joys,  and  sometimes 
of  the  little  trials  which  crept  into  even 
his  sunny  lot.  These  letters  were  duly 
delivered  to  Raynor,  every  evening,  to 
be  put  into  an  envelope  on  which  Ray- 
nor  assured  him  was  written  his  father's 
exact  address,  in  his  very  best  hand. 
Every  morning  Benny's  precious  letter 
was  scattered  to  the  winds,  on  Raynor's 
way  to  his  work,  and  every  evening 
another  tiny  billet  was  thrust  into  the 
ever-ready  envelope. 

"  How  can  you  keep  on  writing,  when 
you  get  no  answers  to  your  letters  ?" 
said  Raynor  to  Benny,  as  the  little 
fingers  were  putting  perhaps  the  thir- 


THE   WEST   INDIA   BOYS.  89 

tieth  letter  into  the  unfaithful  place  of 
deposit. 

"  He  will  answer  by-and-by.  He  is 
a  good  father,"  answered  Benny,  with  a 
kind  of  sober  decision,  which  seemed  to 
say,  "  I  have  made  up  my  mind,  and 
you  can't  shake  me." 

Raynor  thought  of  his  own  doubtful, 
wavering  prayers  to  our  merciful  Father 
in  Heaven,  and  silently  yearned  for  the 
child-like  trust  which  could  so  wait  and 
persevere,  without  a  single  misgiving. 

Mrs.  Waller  had  been  making  Raynor 
a  warm,  winter  suit.  His  old  clothes 
were  left  on  a  chair,  in  the  boys'  room. 
Benny  had  been  enjoying  himself  by 
thrusting  his  hands  into  the  deep  pocket 
on  one  side  of  the  pantaloons,  when  it 
suddenly  struck  him  to  try  the  other. 
This  pocket  was  not  empty.  Raynor 
had  accidentally  left  something  in  it. 

8* 


90  THE   WEST   INDIA   BOYS. 

It  was  a  piece  of  paper.  Benny  looked 
carefully  at  it.  He  could  not  be  mis 
taken.  Raynor  had  forgotten  that  day 
to  take  his  letter  to  his  father  !  Benny 
was  inclined  for  a  moment  to  be  much 
displeased  at  this  breach  of  trust,  but 
was  comforted  by  the  thought  that  he 
could  write  letters  and  play  put  them 
in  the  Post  Office,  all  day. 

Pierre  had  not  gone  out  with  Raynor. 
He  did  not  feel  well,  he  said,  and  should 
take  a  holiday.  A  queer  holiday,  Benny 
thought  it. 

Pierre  had  bound  up  his  head  in  flan 
nel,  and  then  wrapping  a  comforter 
round  him,  he  sat  down  by  a  hot  little 
box-stove,  to  enjoy  himself,  in  his  own 
room.  Sundry  pains  in  the  muffled 
head  threatened  to  spoil  Pierre's  holi 
day.  The  little  Frenchman  made  light 
of  these  symptoms,  and  tried  to  per- 


THE    WEST    INDIA    BOYS.  91 

suade  Benny  that  he  had  hit  upon  a 
very  nice  way  for  a  grown-up  man,  who 
did  not  care  to  run  about  and  play,  to 
spend  a  day  at  home. 

"  Pierre,  you  shall  be  the  Postmaster," 
said  Benny,  who  was  privileged  to  go 
about  the  house,  wherever  he  pleased. 
"  I  will  come  and  drop  my  letter  into 
your  pocket.  You  mustn't  catch  my 
hand,  now,  Pierre,  as  you  do  sometimes." 

Benny  demurely  dropped  his  letter 
in  the  pocket,  and  took  it  out  several 
times,  and  then,  growing  tired  of  the 
fun,  he  said,  "  Come,  let  us  write  some 
letters, — you  and  I.  I'll  tell  what  to 
say,  and  you  put  down.  I'll  get  my 
pencil." 

While  Benny  had  gone  to  seek  his 
treasure  in  Mrs.  Waller's  work-basket, 
Pierre  looked  at  the  envelope  he  idly 


92  THE   WEST    INDIA   BOYS. 

held  in  his  hand.  It  bore  the  full  ad 
dress  of  Raynor's  father. 

"  I  wouldn't  mind  putting  in  a  letter 
of  my  own,  giving  that  father  a  talk 
about  his  boys,"  thought  Pierre. 

"  Now  you  write/'  said  Benny,  put 
ting  his  pencil  and  a  bit  of  paper  into 
Pierre's  hands. 

"No,  I'll  give  you  whole  leaf,"  said 
Pierre.  Pierre  got  up  as  he  spoke,  and, 
rummaging  among  his  odd  collection  of 
valuables,  found  the  queer  little  port 
folio  in  which  his  writing  materials 
were  all  put  away  together.  His  tiny 
bottle  of  ink  was  produced,  and  then, 
on  the  thinnest  of  French  paper,  Pierre 
commenced  his  letter,  Benny  dictating. 

"  Say— 

"  DEAR  PAPA  : 

"  I  forgot  to  tell  you  yesterday  Mrs.  Waller  had 
done  Raynor's  new  clothes.  He'll  wear  an  apron 


THE    WEST    INDIA    BOYS.  93 

while  lie  paints,  to  keep  them  clean.  I  wear  a 
blue  apron  now,  made  out  of  one  of  Mrs.  Waller's. 
Pierre  is  writing  for  me.  Pierre  says  he  has  a 
holiday,  but  he  looks  very  queer.  His  head  is 
done  up  in  a  red  shirt.  Max  sold  a  great  many 
pins  yesterday.  He  can 't  think  what  made  peo 
ple  want  so  many  pins.  We  had  fried  fish  for 
breakfast.  It  was  very  good.  I  like  onions,  don 't 
you  ?  Max  does,  and  so  does  Pierre,  and  so  does 
Mrs.  Waller,  but  Raynor  don't.  Raynor  is  teach 
ing  me  to  sing  '  the  Lord  will  provide/  I  guess 
you'll  answer  this  letter." 

"  He  will.  He  will,"  said  Pierre,  with 
a  sly  twinkle  in  his  eyes.  "  There,  now, 
run  away,  and  come  see  me  by  by." 

Benny  went  out  obediently,  and  was 
soon  busy  playing  horse  with  the  chair 
on  which  Mrs.  Waller  was  contentedly 
rocking. 

Pierre  seemed  in  the  mood  for  letter 
writing.  He  had  a  good  deal  to  add  to 
Benny's  composition,  and  in  a  some- 


94  THE   WEST    INDIA    BOYS. 

what  different  strain.  A  strange  mix 
ture  it  was,  of  French  and  English,  but 
he  did  not  see  anything  funny  about 
it.  It  came  right  from  his  queer,  kind 
heart. 

In  his  own  small,  foreign  hand,  he 
carefully  copied  the  address  on  Benny's 
envelope.  This  done,  Pierre  sealed  up 
the  letter  with  evident  satisfaction. 

Another  sheet  of  thin  paper  had  to 
be  scribbled  over,  and  placed  in  the 
worn  envelope,  before  Pierre  was  ready 
to  admit  the  little  fellow,  whose  fat  fist 
had  more  than  once  knocked  for  admis 
sion. 

"  Pierre  wrote  my  letter  to-day.  You 
forgot  it  this  morning,"  was  Benny's 
evening  salutation  to  Raynor.  There 
was  triumph  as  well  as  reproach  in  his 
tone. 

Raynor  was  a  little  flurried  as  he 


THE    WEST    INDIA    BOYS.  95 

took  out  the  thin  sheet.  It  might  be 
dangerous  for  Benny  to  have  such  a 
way  of  writing  his  letters.  But  the 
scrawls  reassured  Raynor,  and  he  put 
the  envelope  in  his  pocket,  without  a 
suspicion  that  Pierre  had  done  anything 
more  than  make  that  senseless  scrib 
bling  for  Benny's  diversion. 

Pierre  was  in  a  particularly  merry 
mood  that  evening.  He  said,  after  all, 
he  had  had  a  good  holiday.  In  truth, 
he  seemed  much  better  than  in  the 
morning,  though  he  adhered  strictly  to 
his  costume  for  such  festal  occasions. 
Herb-tea  had  been  abundantly  fur 
nished  to  Pierre,  during  the  day,  and 
at  every  sip  he  had  chuckled  at  the 
thought  of  the  document  he  held  in  his 
pocket. 

Pierre  had  not  been  trained  in  any 


96  THE    WEST    INDIA    BOYS. 

very  definite  ideas  of  right  and  wrong. 
According  to  his  creed,  a  little  deceit 
was  quite  excusable,  when  it  was  to 
bring  about  a  good  end.  Poor  Pierre 
had  never  been  taught  that  the  slightest 
deceit  is  great  loss  to  the  soul,  and  great 
gain  to  the  "  father  of  lies,"  even  Satan, 
our  terrible  enemy.  It  was  a  wronder 
that  Pierre  was  as  good  as  he  was,  with 
the  few  advantages  he  had  enjoyed. 
Raynor  might  have  given  him  many  a 
hint  about  the  better  path,  but  Raynor 
had  never  thought  that  he  might  return 
Pierre's  kindness  by  trying  to  do  him 
good.  Yet,  Raynor  was,  after  all,  very 
useful  to  Pierre.  The  Frenchman  could 
see  that  the  lad  was  striving  to  subdue 
his  proud  and  hasty  temper,  and  endea 
vouring  faithfully  to  fulfil  the  humble 
duties  of  his  lot. 


THE   WEST    INDIA   BOYS.  97 

Every  true  Christian  must  let  his  light 
shine,  whether  he  knows  it  or  not. 

Raynor's  light  was  dim  and  flicker 
ing,  but  it  was  still  alive,  and  might  yet 
increase  more  and  more,  unto  the  per 
fect  day. 


98  THE   WEST    INDIA   BOYS. 


CHAPTER  X. 

THE    KNIFE. 

MR.  PENFOLD  thought  himself  a  very 
shrewd  man  of  business.  He  quite 
prided  himself  on  the  bargains  he  had 
made,  and  the  difficulties  he  had  over 
come,  during  forty  years  of  active  life. 
Among  his  various  transactions,  none 
had  pleased  him  better  than  establish 
ing  the  Thalls,  as  lodgers,  in  good  Mrs. 
Waller's  humble  home.  Mr.  Penfold 
had  actually  made  a  minute  on  paper 
of  the  advantages  thus  gained.  His 
memorandum  was  as  follows  : 

I.  Good  care  for  the  little  fellow.  II.  Take 
down  big  boy's  notions.  III.  Keep  both  safe 
from  bad  company.  IY.  Have  them  under  my 


THE  WEST  INDIA  BOYS.      99 

own  eye,  without  their  knowing  it.  V.  Cheap 
place,  in  case  I  have  to  pay  their  board  myself. 
VI.  Kind  folks,  if  nobody  should  ever  claim  the 
boys  'y  wouldn  't  turn  them  out  if  anything  should 
happen  to  me.  VII.  Help  Max  and  his  wife  on 
a  little,  as  long  as  boys  or  I  can  pay  board.  N.  B. 
Good  transaction.  Took  place  Sept.  16.  J.  P. 

Mr.  Penfold  seemed  to  have  business 
very  often,  of  late,  in  the  neighbour 
hood  of  Max  Waller's  shop,  and  not 
unfrequently  he  had  various  purchases 
to  make  of  the  German  himself.  When 
ever  he  was  near,  or  at  Mrs.  Waller's, 
he  must  always  have  a  chat  with  Benny. 
A  pleasant  chat  to  both  parties,  it  gen 
erally  proved,  and  ended  now  and  then 
by  Benny's  thrusting  some  new  treasure 
deep  into  his  pocket,  while  his  face  was 
beaming  with  thanks  to  the  giver. 

Benny  had  such  a  visit  from  Mr. 
Penfold,  one  morning,  and  was  left  the 


100  THE    WEST    INDIA    BOYS. 

happy  possessor  of  a  real  knife,  to  be 
all  his  own.  There  were  two  sharp 
blades,  for  Benny  reassured  himself  of 
the  fact,  every  few  minutes,  during  the 
day.  Before  evening,  two  of  his  fingers 
had  gone  into  a  state  of  retirement,  one 
in  the  depths  of  a  cotton  bandage,  and 
the  other  was  somehow  enabled  to  fill 
the  thumb  of  one  of  Max's  old  gloves. 
Benny  considered  these  wounds  highly 
honourable,  and  hastened  to  exhibit 
them  to  Raynor,  as  soon  as  he  returned 
at  night. 

"  How  did  you  cut  yourself,  Benny  ?" 
said  Raynor,  with  more  severity  than 
pity  in  his  manner. 

"  With  my  new  knife,  Mr.  Penfold 
gave  me.  My  new  knife"  said  Benny, 
producing  his  treasure,  and  proceeding 
to  open  the  blades  in  a  free  way  that 
was  rather  alarming,  considering  what 


THE   WEST   INDIA   BOYS.  101 

had  happened  to  the  two  disabled  fin 
gers. 

"  Give  me  the  knife  !"  said  Kay  nor. 

Benny  gave  it  up  at  once.  Kay  nor 
quietly  closed  the  blades,  and  put  the 
knife  into  his  own  pocket.  "  You  are 
too  little  to  have  a  knife,"  said  the  elder 
brother,  with  more  care  for  Benny's 
fingers  than  for  his  feelings. 

"  It  is  my  knife  !  Mr.  Penfold  gave 
it  to  me  !"  said  Benny,  his  face  flushing, 
and  his  chest  swelling,  while  the  tears 
rushed  to  his  eyes.  "Give  me  my  knife." 

"It  must  be  my  knife,  till  you  are 
old  enough  to  use  it  properly,"  said 
Kaynor,  decidedly.  "  I  will  put  it  away, 
and  keep  it  for  you  till  you  are  a  big 
boy." 

"  I'm  a  big  boy  now !"  said  Benny, 
indignantly.  "I  have  my  hair  cut 
short,  like  yours,  and  my  trowsers  have 

9* 


102  THE    WEST    INDIA   BOYS. 

got  pockets,  and  see  how  thick  my  shoes 
are !" 

The  momentary  satisfaction  occa 
sioned  by  the  remembrance  of  these 
honours  came  near  putting  Benny  into 
a  good  humour,  but  at  that  moment 
Kaynor  buttoned  up  his  pocket  in  a  de 
cided  manner,  that  seemed  to  invite  him 
to  a  continuance  of  the  conflict. 

"I  will  have  my  knife!"  screamed 
Benny,  flying  at  the  pocket,  with  his 
cheeks  glowing  with  anger. 

"Naughty  boy!  You  must  go  up 
stairs,  if  you  don't  behave  yourself!" 
said  Raynor,  with  what  he  meant  to  be 
great  dignity. 

The  manner  did  not  strike  Mrs.  Wal 
ler  favourably,  but  she  prudently  kept 
silence. 

"  I  won 't  go  up  stairs  !  I  won 't !  I 
won't!"  shouted  Benny,  giving  Ray- 


THE   WEST    INDIA    BOYS.  103 

nor's  chair  some  threatening  kicks  with 
those  very  thick  shoes. 

"  Then  I  shall  have  to  carry  you," 
said  Raynor.  In  another  moment, 
Benny,  struggling  and  screaming,  was 
borne  from  the  room. 

In  the  midst  of  the  feather  bed  he 
was  deposited,  and  then  Raynor  went 
out,  turning  the  key  of  the  room  in  the 
lock,  to  make  sure  of  the  safety  of  the 
little  delinquent. 

Raynor  did  not  feel  like  going  back 
to  the  sitting-room,  just  then.  He  was 
conscious  of  being  more  excited  than 
he  cared  to  own.  He  took  two  or  three 
turns  in  the  narrow  entry  before  he 
could  make  up  his  mind  to  go  down 
stairs.  No  one  spoke  to  him,  when  he 
took  his  seat  at  table,  until  Mrs.  Waller 
said,  "  Shall  I  take  Benny's  supper  to 
him?" 


104  THE   WEST   INDIA    BOYS. 

"  No,  I  thank  you !"  was  Raynor's 
only  reply. 

Mrs.  Waller  was  particular,  every 
time  anybody  was  helped,  to  put  some 
thing  on  a  plate  beside  her,  so  that  be 
fore  the  meal  was  over,  the  culprit 
seemed  to  have  in  store  for  him  a  true 
Benjamin's  portion. 

As  soon  as  supper  was  done,  Raynor 
went  up  stairs,  with  the  full  plate  in  his 
hand.  He  knocked  at  the  door.  A 
pleasant  voice  called  out,  "  Who 's 
there  ?" 

"  It  is  I.  Your  brother  Raynor.  Are 
you  a  good  boy  now  ?"  was  the  reply. 

"Yes,  I'm  sorry.  Come  in!"  said 
Benny. 

Benny  had  not  moved  from  the  spot 
where  he  had  been  dropped.  When 
Raynor  opened  the  door,  the  little  fel 
low  lifted  up  his  red  and  swollen  face 


THE   WEST   INDIA   BOYS.  105 

to  be  kissed,  saying,  "  Please  kiss  me, 
Eaynor.  I  am  sorry  I  was  a  naughty 
boy.  I  won't  do  so  again." 

Eaynor  stooped  down,  and  the  little 
arms  were  twined  round  his  neck,  and 
the  wet  cheek  pressed  close  to  his. 
"Love  me,  Ray  nor.  I  want  to  be  a 
good  boy,"  said  Benny. 

"  I  do  love  you,  and  I  have  not  been 
happy,  at  all,  at  supper  without  you," 
said  Raynor,  kissing  the  child  very  ten 
derly.  "  Here,  I  have  brought  up  your 
supper  for  you.  Mrs.  Waller  put  it  on 
the  plate.  I  believe  she  thought  you 
were  going  to  be  very  hungry." 

Benny  forthwith  began  to  eat  his  sup 
per,  putting  now  and  then  into  Raynor's 
mouth  what  he  considered  a  choice  mor 
sel.  These  same  morsels  had  a  far  bet 
ter  relish  than,  the  food  that  Raynor  had 
forced  himself  to  take  down  stairs,  and 


106  THE   WEST    INDIA   BOYS. 

they  soon  came  so  often,  that  the 
brothers  were  at  last  actually  taking 
supper  together,  as  pleasantly  as  pos 
sible. 

"  Now,  Raynor,  will  you  put  me  to 
bed  ?  I  'rn  tired,  and  want  to  go  to  sleep," 
said  Benny,  when  the  meal  was  over. 

Raynor  undressed  the  child,  his 
strong  hands  moving  with  unusual  gen 
tleness. 

When  Benny  came  to  say  his  prayers, 
he  put  his  arm  round  Raynor  and  said, 
"  Kneel  down  with  me,  won 't  you  ?  I 
love  you,  Raynor." 

Side  by  side  the  brothers  knelt,  while 
the  younger  spoke  his  simple  petitions. 
There  was  real  earnestness  in  the  way 
he  spoke,  "  Please  Lord  forgive  Benny 
all  he  has  done  naughty,  and  help  him 
to  be  a  good  boy."  It  seemed,  too,  to 
Raynor,  that  there  was  more  than 


THE    WEST   INDIA   BOYS.  107 

wonted  tenderness  in  the  "God  bless 
Raynor,"  which  closed  the  simple 
prayer. 

Benny  went  to  sleep  with  his  arms 
round  Raynor's  neck.  Many  and  search 
ing  were  the  thoughts  that  passed 
through  Raynor's  mind,  as  he  lay  there, 
with  those  loving  arms  about  him. 
When  should  he  be  as  a  child,  to  his 
Heavenly  Father  ?  When  should  he  so 
truly  believe  in  his  forgiveness,  and 
turn  to  him  in  grateful  love  ? 

Verily,  there  is  deep  wisdom  in  those 
words,  "Except  ye  be  converted,  and 
become  as  little  children,  ye  cannot  en 
ter  into  the  kingdom  of  Heaven." 


108  THE   WEST   INDIA   BOYS. 


CHAPTER  XL 

JOY. 

MR.  PENFOLD  was  going  to  take  Benny 
to  the  museum.  He  was  brimful  of  joy, 
nay,  his  cup  was  running  over,  and  every 
body  in  the  house  must  have  a  share  in 
his  gladness.  He  actually  stood  at  the 
door  of  the  shop,  and  told  the  passers- 
by,  in  the  abundance  of  his  delight,  that 
good  Mr.  Penfold  was  going  to  take  him 
to  the  museum.  Care-worn  men,  and 
shabby  dressed  women,  went  on  their 
way  with  a  bright  smile  for  a  moment 
lighting  their  anxious  faces,  as  Benny 
made  his  triumphant  announcement. 

We  cannot  make  a  child  keep  his  joy 
to  himself.  He  must  have  somebody  to 


THE   WEST    INDIA    BOYS.  109 

share  it  with  him,  or  it  is  a  poor,  half 
joy,  after  all.  Here  the  chubby  little 
fellows  give  their  elders  a  lesson  it  were 
well  for  us  to  learn.  Let  us  try  to  make 
others  happy  with  what  we  enjoy ;  and, 
above  all,  when  we  have  found  a  friend 
who  will  wipe  all  our  tears  away,  let  us 
lead  the  sorrowful  of  earth  to  him! 
When  we  have  the  promise  of  a  glad 
home  among  the  heavenly  angels,  let  us 
not  be  content  to  go  silently  and  sel 
fishly  thither.  Let  us  hold  out  our 
hands,  and  beckon  to  those  around  us, 
to  go  with  us  and  share  our  joy. 

Through  the  busy  streets  of  the  city, 
Benny  went  skipping  at  Mr.  Penfold's 
side.  His  beaming  face  seemed  to  make 
bright  his  very  path,  and  strangers 
turned  to  look  upon  him  as  flowers 
bend  to  seek  the  sunshine. 

What  a  dreary  world  this  would  be, 
10 


110  THE   WEST   INDIA   BOYS. 

if  the  children  were  all  left  out !  Beth 
lehem  must  have  been  a  sad,  sad  spot 
indeed,  when  it  was  suddenly  sown  with 
little  graves,  and  no  prattling  two  year 
old  child  made  music  at  his  mother's 
side.  We  are  so  used  to  having  the 
wee,  happy  things  about  us,  that  we 
hardly  think  to  thank  God  for  them,  as 
among  our  choicest  blessings. 

Ah  !  if  Christians  would  only  be  like 
the  little  children  —  a  fount  of  joy  for 
all  the  world  — and  why  should  they 
not?  Why  may  they  not  go  on  their 
way  as  cheerily  as  Benny,  at  Mr.  Pen- 
fold's  side  ?  Safe  in  the  hands  of  that 
great  Protector,  they  need  fear  no  evil 
—  they  need  have  no  anxious  cares. 
God's  true  children  should  cast  sun 
shine  wherever  they  go,  even  as  Benny's 
bright  face  made  glad  the  hearts  of  pass 
ing  strangers. 


THE   WEST   INDIA  BOYS.  Ill 

A  weary,  weary  time  it  had  seemed 
to  Mr.  Penfold,  since  he  was  a  boy ;  but 
.with  Benny's  hand  in  his,  he  was  begin 
ning  to  feel  young  again.  By  the  time 
they  reached  the  door  of  the  museum, 
he  was  in  almost  as  great  a  glee  as  his 
little  companion. 

"  That  can't  be  Joshua  Penfold  ! "  said 
one  of  his  business  acquaintances.  "  No, 
no  !  I  never  saw  him  out  of  his  office 
on  a  week-day.  He  never  would  have 
chucked  that  little  fellow  under  the 
chin  so ;  and  then,  going  to  the  museum ! 
It  can't  be." 

Yes,  it  was  Joshua  Penfold,  and  a 
pleasant  afternoon  he  seemed  likely  to 
have  of  it.  Why,  he  had  not  talked 
so  much  for  many  a  day.  He  had  to 
tell  Benny  all  about  the  wax  figures, 
and,  before  he  knew  it,  he  was  giving  a 
history  of  one  of  the  scenes  to  quite  an 


112  THE   WEST   INDIA   BOYS. 

audience  of  the  "  small  fry/'  who  had 
collected  around  him.  Benny  was  full 
of  admiration  for  the  various  waxen 
worthies  shut  up  in  glass  cases,  and  had 
perfect  confidence  in  their  being  faithful 
likenesses  of  the  original.  He  made  Mr. 
Penfold  smile,  by  saying,  "  that  General 
Jackson's  cheeks  looked  just  like  Pierre's, 
and  Queen  Victoria  was  almost  as  pretty 
as  Mrs.  Waller." 

There  was  a  great  crowd  in  the  region 
of  the  bears.  Mr.  Penfold  had  turned 
for  a  moment  to  speak  to  an  acquaint 
ance,  and  just  then  a  rough  party,  push 
ing  by,  carried  Benny  along  with  them, 
and  he  was  wholly  separated  from  his 
kind  protector. 

It  was  in  vain  that  Mr.  Penfold  forced 
his  way  hither  and  thither ;  he  could 
not  find  his  little  charge.  Far  from  the 
bears  and  their  admirers,  Benny  was 


THE   WEST   INDIA   BOYS.  113 

borne  by  the  moving  mass,  while  Mr. 
Penfold  asked  questions  of  his  neigh 
bours,  and  became  very  unpopular,  as 
"  the  little  red-faced  man,  who  was  in 
everybody's  way."  Benny,  meanwhile, 
gave  himself  no  anxiety  as  to  the  result 
of  his  adventure.  He  managed  to  get 
on  the  outside  edge  of  the  crowd,  so 
that,  as  it  moved  on,  he  kept  near  the 
cases,  full  of  stuffed  birds  and  beasts  of 
every  clime.  Benny  tried  to  fancy  he 
was  in  the  ark,  seeing  the  dumb  com 
panions  of  Noah's  voyage.  The  hum 
of  the  restless,  talking  crowd,  he  thought 
was  like  the  noise  of  the  waves,  and  he 
became  so  much  pleased  with  the  fancy, 
that  he  almost  forgot  it  was  not  real. 
If,  now  and  then,  a  misgiving  crossed 
Benny's  mind,  it  was  quickly  checked 
by  the  thought  that  Mr.  Penfold  would 

take  care  of  him.     He  would  come  for 
10* 


114  THE   WEST   INDIA   BOYS. 

him,  when  he  wanted  him  to  go  home. 
So  the  afternoon  passed  away.  The 
evening  came  on,  and  but  increased  the 
crowd  that  was  gathered  to  see  the 
wonders  of  the  museum.  Worn  out  by 
fatigue  and  excitement,  Benny  at  last 
resolved  to  sit  down  in  a  niche,  between 
two  great  glass-cases,  and  there  wait  till 
Mr.  Penfold  should  take  him  by  the 
hand  to  lead  him  home. 

Against  the  wall  the  little  fellow 
leaned,  while  on,  on,  moved  the  eager, 
curious  visitors,  making  a  kind  of  Babel 
with  their  mingled  talk.  Benny's  head 
soon  dropped  on  his  bosom,  and,  hidden 
safely  away,  he  fell  into  a  sound  sleep. 

Mr.  Penfold  had  grown  tired  of  push 
ing  hither  and  thither,  asking  for  a  little 
curly-headed  boy,  in  a  full  suit  of  plaid 
homespun.  Nobody  had  seen  any  such 


THE   WEST   INDIA    BOYS.  115 

child ;  at  least,  nobody  had  any  news  to 
tell  of  him. 

At  one  of  the  doors  of  exit,  Mr.  Pen- 
fold  established  himself,  while  at  the 
other  he  stationed  a  friendly  policeman, 
to  watch  for  his  charge.  Benny  could 
not  slip  out  unobserved.  That  was  a 
comfort.  It  was  hard  work  for  Mr. 
Penfold  to  keep  his  ground,  but  he  did, 
and  every  child  who  passed  under  the 
gas-light,  by  his  door,  was  subjected  to 
his  careful  scrutiny. 

Silence  and  dimness  were  stealing 
over  the  museum,  and  yet  Mr.  Penfold 
lingered  round  the  door.  He  could  not 
go  away.  He  could  not  go  without 
Benny  !  Perhaps  the  child  had  thrown 
himself  on  the  protection  of  some  stran 
ger,  and  had  been  at  home  all  the  time 
that  Mr.  Penfold  was  haunting  the  mu- 


116  THE   WEST    INDIA   BOYS. 

seum,  like  a  will  o'  the  wisp  flitting  over 
a  marsh. 

Straight  for  Mrs.  Waller's  went  Mr. 
Penfold,  cheering  himself  all  the  way 
with  the  hope  that  prompted  the  sudden 
change  in  his  movements. 

Of  course,  no  Benny  was  found  at 
Mrs.  Waller's ;  but,  instead,  there  were 
four  indignant  friends,  who  were  in- 
'clined  to  think  Mr.  Penfold  an  unwor 
thy  bachelor,  not  fit  to  be  trusted  with 
the  care  of  a  child. 

Raynor  was  for  having  the  streets 
filled  with  criers,  who  were  to  keep 
everybody  awake,  shouting  "lost  child!" 
till  Benny  was  found. 

Max  started  out  at  once,  on  an  inde 
pendent  search,  with  no  Other  guide  but 
his  nose,  and  no  other  means  of  finding 
the  object  of  his  search,  than  an  una 
vailing  inquiry  for  "  the  poy,  Penny"  an 


THE   WEST   INDIA   BOYS.  117 

inquiry  which  produced  more  laughter 
than  it  won  assistance. 

Mrs.  Waller  tried  bravely  to  keep  up 
courage  by  assuring  everybody  that  he 
would  certainly  be  found ;  but  her  voice 
was  very  husky,  and  at  length  she 
dropped  into  a  chair,  and  threw  her 
apron  over  her  head,  to  take  a  good  cry. 
Pierre  but  for  a  moment  expressed  his 
indignation  at  Mr.  Penfold,  for  letting 
go  of  the  child's  hand  under  any  circum 
stances,  and  then  he  hooked  his  arm 
with  Mr.  Penfold's  and  made  straight 
for  the  museum; — Kaynor  following,  in 
a  most  unhappy  state  of  mind. 

Pierre  at  once  demanded  admission 
to  get  the  little  boy  that  was  locked  in 
by  mistake.  Though  his  English  was 
poor,  he  made  himself  understood,  and 
his  tone  was  so  confident  that  the  doors 
were  opened,  and  his  bright  eyes  went 


118  THE   WEST   INDIA    BOYS. 

peering  into  every  cranny.  At  last  he 
came  upon  Benny,  sleeping  as  soundly 
as  if  he  were  stretched  on  Mrs.  Waller's 
feather  bed,  instead  of  being  curled  up 
in  a  little  heap,  amid  the  darkness  of 
the  deserted  museum ! 

"  I  thought  you  would  come  for  me, 
Mr.  Penfold.  I  guess  I've  been  asleep  !" 
said  Benny,  shutting  his  eyes  to  avoid 
the  glare  of  the  gas-light,  turned  full 
upon  him. 

Benny  seemed  to  think  the  whole 
affair  had  been  managed  admirably, 
and  with  the  ride  home,  in  Pierre's 
arms,  by  moonlight,  as  a  particularly 
pleasant  part  of  the  proceeding. 

When  Mr.  Penfold  was  in  the  silence 
of  his  own  room,  that  night,  he  thought 
much  of  his  little  companion  ;  and  some 
how  his  heart  seemed  softened  and 
touched  by  the  querulous  joy,  and  im- 


THE   WEST    INDIA   BOYS.  119 

plicit  trust  of  the  child.  So  it  is  often 
with  a  world-worn  man,  to  whom  the 
preacher  speaks  in  vain.  God's  "  little 
ones,"  have  that  ministry  among  us. 
Would  that  all  would  listen  to  their 
teaching ! 

Did  Mr.  Penfold  remember  how  Ben 
ny's  face  had  been  turned  to  him,  from 
time  to  time,  in  the  midst  of  his  joy  ? 
Had  he  marked  the  expression,  half 
gladness,  half  gratitude,  that  had  beamed 
from  every  feature  ?  Did  Mr.  Penfold 
so  turn  to  his  heavenly  Friend  in  thank 
fulness  for  all  his  blessings  ?  Were  his 
pleasures  such  that  he  dared  to  thank 
God  for  them,  and  in  the  use  of  them  ? 

That  pleasure  is  not  likely  to  lead  us 
astray,  for  which  we  involuntarily  look 
up  to  our  dear  Lord  in  grateful  love. 
When  our  glad  hearts  seek  our  Father's 
face,  that  face  beams  upon  us  a  smile 
of  holy  approval. 


120  THE   WEST    INDIA   BOYS. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

THE    SICK-ROOM. 

SOME  people  seem  to  think  that  there 
are  no  children  worth  caring  for,  be 
sides  their  own,  and  that  the  present 
gratification  of  those  same  youngsters 
is  the  only  earthly  thing  of  importance. 
So  it  had  proved,  on  the  afternoon  of 
Benny's  visit  to  the  museum.  Some 
body's  Jacky  or  Johnny,  just  out  of  a 
sick-bed,  and  still  weak  and  excitable 
from  scarlet  fever,  had  been  taken  to 
the  museuni,  instead  of  being  made 
quietly  happy  at  home.  An  abundant 
supply  of  the  foul  air  of  the  sick-room 
had  been  brought  with  Master  Jacky  or 


THE   WEST   INDIA    BOYS.  121 

Johnny,  as  a  present  to  the  healthy  lit 
tle  people  he  might  chance  to  meet. 

Children  suffering  from  contagious 
disorders,  and  children  who  lie  and 
swear,  are  somewhat  alike,  in  one  re 
spect;  they  are  dangerous  companions, 
and  had  better  be  kept  by  themselves, 
until  they  can  be  let  out  without  doing 
other  people  harm. 

This  good  rule  not  having  been  fol 
lowed  for  Benny's  advantage,  the  poor 
child  had  to  pay  the  penalty  for  some 
body's  imprudence.  Tossing  with  fever, 
and  his  face  all  on  fire,  he  lay  for  many 
days  a  sufferer,  while  the  whole  family 
was  plunged  in  anxiety  and  distress. 

Eaynor  watched  over  Benny  with  un 
wearied  faithfulness,  until  a  severe  sore 
throat  placed  him  at  the  side  of  his  lit 
tle  brother.  There  they  lay,  in  utter 

helplessness,  while  their  humble  friends 
11 


122  THE   WEST    INDIA   BOYS. 

ministered  to  their  wants,  and  antici 
pated  their  slightest  wish. 

Benny  was  best  satisfied  when  his 
hand  was  clasped  in  Kaynor's.  A  little 
fluttering  thing  it  was,  stirring  with  an 
uncertain  movement,  like  that  of  a  bird 
just  about  to  wing  its  way  to  the  sunny 
skies.  Ray  nor  trembled  as  the  hot 
fingers  quivered  in  his.  Soon,  very 
soon,  that  hand  might  be  lying  all  too 
still  and  cold,  while  the  Benny  that  he 
had  loved  would  be  far  away. 

Raynor's  thoughts  were  sad  and  trou 
bled.  How  would  his  father  bear  the 
news  of  his  darling's  death  ?  Now,  for 
the  first  time  for  many  months,  a  flood 
of  old  memories  came  over  the  mind  of 
Ray  nor.  Benny  climbing  his  father's 
knee,  privileged  to  search  every  pocket, 
and  explore  purse  and  wallet  without 
reproof.  He  could  see  again  the  home 


THE   WEST    INDIA    BOYS.  123 

of  his  childhood,  where  the  sad  father 
had  a  smile  only  for  his  boys.  Could 
it  be  that  their  father  had  ceased  to  love 
them  ?  Could  any  stranger  have  taken 
their  place  in  his  heart  ?  Could  he  fail 
to  mourn,  should  he  hear  that  his  little 
Benny  was  no  more?  Had  Eaynor 
been  right  in  taking  the  responsibility 
of  cutting  off  all  intercourse  with  his 
father?  Why  had  he  not,  like  the 
child,  continued  to  trust  and  write,  and 
write  and  trust,  cheerfully  awaiting  an 
answer  ?  Ray  nor  saw  revealed  the 
pride  of  his  heart,  the  stubbornness  of 
his  will,  which  had  made  him  too  ready 
to  believe  that  his  father  had  ceased  to 
care  for  him.  "  But  Mr.  Penfold  thought 
so,"  whispered  a  self-justifying  spirit. 
"  Mr.  Penfold  did  not  know  my  father. 
He  had  never  seen  him  happy  with  his 
boys,"  was  the  just  reply  of  the  awakened 


124  THE    WEST    INDIA   BOYS. 

conscience.  How  could  he  ever  meet 
that  father's  face,  and  tell  him  Benny 
died  among  strangers,  still  loving  and 
trusting  the  father  whom  Raynor  had 
been  willing  to  believe  an  unnatural 
monster  ? 

fc  Raynor !  Raynor  !"  whispered  Ben 
ny,  putting  his  hot  lips  close  to  Ray- 
nor's  cheek. 

"  What,  darling  !"  said  Raynor,  with 
more  than  usual  tenderness. 

"  Raynor,  perhaps  you  and  I  will  die. 
That  would  be  so  nice,  to  die  together, 
and  go  to  see  mother.  And  father  would 
come  by-and-by,  and  tell  me  why  he 
didn  't  answer  my  letters,  and  we  should 
all  be  so  happy,  just  as  we  used  to  be 
in  the  old  home.  Don't  you  want  to 
die,  Raynor  ?  I  do." 

"  Don 't  talk  so,  Benny,"  said  Raynor, 
shuddering.  "  Dear  Benny,  I  want  you 


THE  WEST  INDIA  BOYS.     125 

to  live,  and  see  father  in  this  world.  I 
want  to  take  you  back  to  him,  and  tell 
him  you  have  always  loved  him  and 
trusted  him." 

"  But  I  could  see  him  in  Heaven,  and 
mother,  too,"  said  Benny.  The  little 
fellow  tried  to  sing  a  stanza  of  a  fa 
vourite  hymn,  but  his  voice  failed,  and 
he  only  added,  in  a  whisper,  "  I  should 
see  Jesus,  in  Heaven,  and  the  beautiful 
angels.  I  want  to  die,  Kaynor." 

"  You  must  talk  not,  Benny,"  said 
Mrs.  Waller,  coming  in,  arid  laying  her 
cool  hand  on  his  hot  forehead.  She 
put  a  cup  of  cold  water  to  his  parched 
lips.  He  drank,  and  then  fell  back  into 
a  drowsy  state,  half  stupor,  half  sleep. 

Kaynor  could  not  sleep  ;  he  could  not 

even  lie  still.     He  tossed  to  and  fro,  a 

prey  to  fear  and  regret.     He  had  not 

the  full  faith  which  would  have  made 

11* 


126  THE    WEST    INDIA   BOYS. 

him  not  only  willing  to  die,  but  sure  of 
being  welcomed  to  the  Heavenly  king 
dom,  for  the  sake  of  the  All-sufficient 
Saviour.  Not  on  the  perfect  Christ, 
but  on  his  own  sinful  self,  dwelt  his  sad 
thoughts.  He  knew  that  he  deserved 
chastisement,  and  trembled  lest  he  was 
to  see  before  him  the  cold,  silent  form 
of  his  dead  brother,  and  to  hear  the  re 
proaches  of  that  father  who  could  listen 
no  more  to  the  prattling  voice  of  his 
youngest  child. 

"  0,  Lord,  suffer  me  to  live,  to  confess 
my  fault,"  prayed  Raynor.  "  Let  me 
see  my  father's  face  once  more,  and  ask 
his  forgiveness  for  all  the  harsh,  jealous, 
angry  thoughts  I  have  cherished  to 
wards  him." 

Raynor  dared  not  pray  in  words  that 
Benny's  life  might  be  spared,  but  the 
deep  yearning  of  his  heart  was  to  see 


THE    WEST   INDIA    BOYS.  127 

the  little  fellow  once  more  in  health, 
and  to  restore  him  to  his  father's  arms. 
He  knew  that  here  trial  and  temptation 
awaited  him,  and  above  there  was  a 
certainty  of  eternal  joy  for  such  little 
trusting  souls.  He  did  not  ask  to  have 
him  stay  in  this  world  of  sin  and  sor 
row,  but  his  tears  fell,  and  his  heart 
throbbed  its  agonized  remonstrance,  at 
the  very  thought  of  parting  from  his 
dear  little  companion. 

Far,  very  far,  was  Kaynor  yet  from 
the  model  which  Christ  set  in  the  midst 
of  his  disciples,  and  pointed  out  for 
their  careful  imitation.  His  soul  must 
be  moulded  and  fashioned,  and  enlight 
ened  by  divine  grace,  ere  he  could 
leave  his  sins  and  cares  to  the  Lord, 
and,  with  the  faith  and  trust  of  a  little 
child,  long  to  "  fall  asleep  in  Jesus." 


128  THE   WEST    INDIA   BOYS. 


CHAPTEK  XIII. 

A    RESTING    PLACE. 

THE  church  bells  were  not  ringing 
out  a  joyous  peal !  There  was  no  sound 
of  drums  and  trumpets,  as  on  a  day  of 
national  jubilee.  Yet,  in  at  least  one 
humble  home,  there  was  a  gladness 
which  made  every  heart  light.  Benny 
was  better !  Max  had  been  trying,  in 
his  best  English,  to  tell  the  good  news 
to  the  milkman,  who  never  failed  to  ask 
for  the  little  boy,  whose  face  had  been 
to  him  as  a  murmured  blessing  on  his 
morning  rounds.  Pierre  was  writing 
one  of  his  queer  letters  to  Mr.  Thall, 
telling  him,  with  French  extravagance, 
that  he  was  "ravished  with  joy,  en- 


THE  WEST  INDIA  BOYS.     129 

chanted,  delirious  with  delight,"  to  be 
able  to  give  him  such  good  news.  Mrs. 
Waller  was  making  savory  broth  for 
the  invalid,  while  Raynor  sat  beside 
him,  his  heart  running  over  with  deep 
gratitude  to  the  God  who  had  mercifully 
spared  his  treasure.  Benny,  meanwhile, 
did  not  realize  that  he  was  the  object 
of  so  much  interest.  He  was  willing  to 
live,  though  he  had  wished  to  die.  His 
joyous  spirit  found  food  for  satisfaction 
in  all  the  circumstances  of  life,  sent  him 
by  his  Heavenly  Father. 

Benny  was  sitting  in  a  low  chair, 
wrapped  up  in  Pierre's  gayly-flowered 
dressing-gown.  His  tiny  feet  were  thrust 
into  Max's  warm  mittens,  while  his  head 
rested  on  one  of  Mrs.  Waller's  best  linen 
pillow-cases,  woven  by  her  mother  in  the 
fatherland. 

The  blue  eyes  looked  larger  than  ever, 


130  THE   WEST   INDIA   BOYS. 

and  more  earnest  and  loving.  Now, 
they  were  fixed  on  Ray  nor,  as  Benny 
said,  "  Will  you  write  me  a  little  note 
to  Papa,  to-day  ?  I  can  tell  you  just 
what  I  want  to  say."  Raynor  had  a 
letter  of  his  own  to  write  to  his  father 
that  day  —  a  penitent,  trustful  letter. 
He  would,  however,  first  make  the  child 
happy,  by  granting  his  request.  This 
time  the  pen  and  the  brown  envelope 
should  be  faithful.  The  father  should 
know  how  truly  and  confidently  his  lit 
tle  son  had  clung  to  him  through  months 
of  apparent  desertion. 

Raynor  had  taken  his  pen  in  hand, 
and  was  just  writing  the  "  dear  father," 
by  way  of  a  commencement.  Down 
stairs,  Max  was  arranging  the  wares  in 
his  window,  in  the  most  attractive  man 
ner.  Hesitatingly  he  held  in  his  hand  a 
stock  of  horn  combs,  undecided  whether 


THE   WEST    INDIA   BOYS.  131 

or  not  to  put  them  next  to  the  box  of 
gay-coloured  sewing-silks.  The  combs 
were  left  in  a  most  unattractive  heap, 
on  the  top  of  the  sewing-silks. 

Mr.  Penfold  had  stepped  into  the 
store,  accompanied  by  a  lady  and  gen 
tleman. 

"  How  is  Benny  this  morning  ?  "  said 
Mr.  Penfold,  with  unusual  excitement 
in  his  manner. 

"Goot!  Goot!  Besser!"  said  Max. 
"Augusta  !  Augusta  ! "  appealing  help 
lessly  to  his  wife,  to  express  the  various 
symptoms  of  improvement  which  had 
so  filled  the  whole  household  with  joy. 

Mrs.  Waller  came  forth,  the  bowl  of 
broth  in  her  hand.  "  It  is  the  fater  ! 
It  is  the  mutter ! "  exclaimed  Mrs.  Wal 
ler,  her  big  blue  eyes  filling*up  with 
tears  of  joy.  "  I  know !  I  know !  Come ! 
come ! " 


132  THE   WEST    INDIA    BOYS. 

It  was  not  hard  to  trace,  in  Mr.  Thall's 
face,  the  features  of  Kaynor,  though  on 
a  larger  scale.  There,  too,  was  much 
of  the  same  expression  of  pride  and  de 
lineation,  mingled  with  Benny's  gentle 
sweetness,  lingering  round  the  expres 
sive  mouth. 

It  was  easy  to  see  that  it  was  Mrs. 
Thall  who  was  leaning  upon  her  hus 
band's  arm.  With  almost  an  own  mo 
ther's  eagerness,  she  pressed  after  Mrs. 
Waller. 

The  good  woman  threw  open  the  door 
of  the  room  where  the  brothers  were 
sitting  together. 

"  My  dear,  dear  boys !"  said  the  father. 

In  another  moment  Benny  was  clasped 
to  his  father's  bosom,  while  Kaynor's 
arms  were  about  him. 

"  Forgive  me !  forgive  me !  dear  fa 
ther  ! "  said  Kaynor,  lifting  his  stream- 


THE   WEST   INDIA   BOYS.  133 

ing  eyes  to  the  pale  countenance  of  Mr. 
Thall. 

Benny  spoke  not  a  word,  but  he 
nestled  close  in  their  strong  arms,  and 
pressed  his  cheek  to  the  fond  face  that 
was  leaning  down  to  his.  Joy,  deep 
joy,  filled  his  heart,  and  spoke  in  every 
feature. 


12 


13d  THE   WEST   INDIA   BOYS. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

A   MOTHER.    . 

MRS.  THALL  was  sitting  lovingly  at 
Raynor's  side,  speaking  in  low,  sweet 
tones.  "  And  was  it  to  avoid  me,  that 
you  wished  to  leave  your  home,  Raynor  ? 
Did  you  believe  that  I  could  love  a 
father  who  would  grow  cold  to  his  boys, 
those  boys  of  whom  he  had  so  fondly 
and  proudly  told  me  ?  How  I  promised 
myself  to  be  a  true  mother  to  you ! 
How  I  planned  to  win  Benny's  little 
heart,  and  make  you  love  me,  because 
I  so  truly  loved  you  !  How  I  grieved 
when  I  found  that  you  had  gone,  gone 
far  away,  where  I  could  not  know  you, 


THE   WEST   INDIA   BOYS.  135 

could  not  strive  to  make  you  good  and 
happy  !  But  I  could  pray  for  you.  We 
could  love  you  and  pray  for  you, — your 
father  and  I.  Yes,  it  was  for  our  dear, 
a,bsent  boys  we  prayed.  It  was  of  them 
we  talked.  It  was  for  them  we  planned 
and  hoped,  and  hoped  and  planned  and 
prayed.  A  little  visit  to  their  uncle, 
we  thought,  would  be  quite  enough  for 
them,  and  then  we  would  go  for  them, 
and  bring  them  back  to  their  own  home, 
and  be  to  them  the  truest  and  best  of 
parents.  But  God  saw  otherwise.  He 
had  another  plan  for  them  and  us.  Be 
fore  we  had  time  to  receive  a  single  let 
ter  from  you,  we  were  on  our  way 
northward,  to  seek  you  and  bring  you 
back.  A  storm  overtook  us.  Our  ves 
sel  was  dashed  to  pieces,  and  we  should 
have  been  lost,  but  for  a  French  ship 


136  THE   WEST   INDIA   BOYS. 

that  took  us  on  board,  and  carried  ua 
safely  to  Bordeaux.  There  your  poor 
father  lay  long  in  the  delirium  of  fever, 
caused  by  the  suffering  and  distress  of 
the  wreck.  Even  in  his  wanderings,  it 
was  of  his  boys  that  he  talked, — his 
darling  boys.  It  was  for  them  he  mur 
mured  his  broken  prayers.  To  them 
he  stretched  out  his  arms ;  then  wept 
that  he  could  not  fold  them  to  his  bo 
som.  Again  and  again  I  wrote  to  Mr. 
Devine,  hoping,  still  hoping,  to  tell  your 
dear  sick  father  that  I  had  a  letter  from 
the  children  he  so  fondly  loved. 

"  No  word,  no  line  came  to  cheer  him. 
When  the  weary  months  had  passed 
away,  and  his  feeble  limbs  began  to  gain 
their  strength,  he  was  sure  he  should 
gain  faster,  if  he  were  but  on  the  way 
to  meet  his  boys.  We  started,  and  by 


THE   WEST   INDIA  BOYS.  137 

slow,  short  stages  we  moved  on,  till  we 
were  at  last  on  the  good  steamer  that 
was  to  bring  us  to  you.  He  was  right. 
Every  mile  that  brought  us  nearer  these 
shores  saw  new  colour  coming  into  his 
cheeks,  and  now  he  looks  so  well,  and 
oh,  so  happy !" 

"  I'm  so  happy,  too !"  said  Benny,  his 
face  all  beaming  with  joy  and  love. 

"And  I — I  am  not  worthy  to  be  so 
blessed,"  said  Kaynor.  "  I  have  been  a 
poor,  jealous,  proud,  stubborn  boy.  Can 
you,  will  you  love  me  ?  May  I  call  you 
mother?" 

"  My  Raynor !  Your  father's  Raynor ! 
I  know  you.  You  are  not  all  pride  and 
stubbornness.  I  know  your  true,  kind, 
upright  heart.  I  know  how  you  strug 
gle  as  a  Christian  child  with  the  tempt 
ers  that  assail  you.  Love  you  ?  Yes, 
indeed,  I  will.  I  do  love  you.  Then 
12* 


138  THE   WEST   INDIA  BOYS. 

you  will  call  me  mother  ?  I  will  try  to 
deserve  the  sacred  name.  I  will  try  so 
to  lead  you  Heavenward,  that  I  may 
some  time  see  you  rejoicing  with  your 
own  blessed,  sainted  mother  in  the  king 
dom  of  our  Father." 


THE  WEST   INDIA   BOYS.  139 


CHAPTER  XV. 

CONCLUSION. 

WE  need  not  follow  Raynor  and 
Benny  on  their  return  to  their  West 
Indian  home.  We  are  sure  that  love 
and  joy  will  be  their  companions. 
There  is  no  happiness  on  earth  like  that 
which  God  gives  to  a  family  united  in 
the  bonds  of  Christian  love.  Whether 
they  have  poverty  or  riches,  a  sure  glad 
ness  is  theirs,  a  gladness  which  is  of 
the  nature  of  the  joy  of  the  angels  in 
Heaven. 

It  was  a  mortification  to  Pierre  to 
find  that  all  h's  precious  letters  had 
been  wasted,  and  that  it  was  not  through 
his  cunning  plan  that  the  brothers  were 


140  THE   WEST   INDIA   BOYS. 

restored  to  their  father's  arms  and  home. 
Yet  the  kind  Frenchman  was  unselfishly 
glad  to  witness  their  re-union.  Pierre 
took  not  "  a  red-flannel  holiday,"  but  a 
real  day  of  leisure,  in  which  to  bid  the 
boys  good-bye  and  see  them  safely  on 
board  the  gallant  ship  which  was  to  bear 
them  over  the  sea.  His  bright  eyes 
sparkled  through  tears  as  he  took  his 
last  look  on  his  young  friends,  and  he 
checked  his  own  regrets  by  the  remem 
brance  that  his  loss  was  their  gain. 
Often,  as  Pierre  fashioned  some  graceful 
design,  amid  his  days  of  toil,  his  heart 
was  cheered  by  the  remembrance  of  the 
affection  of  Raynor  and  Benny,  and  it 
was  a  glad  day  for  him  when  he  re 
ceived  a  real  letter,  fairly  printed  by 
Benny's  own  hand,  a  letter  full  of  grate 
ful  love  to  the  dear  friends  at  Mrs. 
Waller's. 


THE    WEST   INDIA   BOYS.  141 

The  West  Indian  boys  had  taught 
Pierre  to  respect  the  faith  in  which  they 
were  trained,  a  faith  which  allows  no 
object  for  the  soul's  deep  worship  but 
the  one  true  God,  a  faith  which  enjoins 
truth,  humility  and  love. 

As  for  Max,  he  never  told  anybody, 
either  in  English  or  German,  what  he 
felt  about  parting  with  his  lodgers,  but 
stored  away  among  his  choicest  trea 
sures  were  some  of  Benny's  scraps  of 
scribbled  paper,  and  the  mittens  which 
had  served  him  for  slippers,  in  his  days 
of  convalescence. 

Mrs.  Waller  had  too  truly  a  woman's 
heart  not  to  grieve  for  "her  own 
Benny."  Before  many  months,  how 
ever,  one  of  the  best  of  human  com 
forters  came  to  Mrs.  Waller's  home,  in 
the  shape  of  a  little,  round-faced  baby, 
named  Max  Waller,  after  its  father, 


142  THE   WEST   INDIA   BOYS. 

and  doomed,  in  due  time,  to  hear  sun 
dry  stories,  of  which  Benny  Thall  would 
be  the  unvarying  hero. 

Mr.  Penfold  had  been  the  silent  wit- 
ness  of  the  meeting  between  the  father 
and  the  children.  The  father  whom  he 
had  doubted  and  condemned  had  been 
true  and  constant  and  loving.  The 
proud  and  wilful  son  had  been  welcomed 
without  a  single  reproach,  while  the 
dear,  trustful  child,  Benny,  had  found 
joy  and  rest  in  his  father's  bosom. 

The  scene  was  not  lost  on  Mr.  Pen- 
fold.  He,  too,  had  a  Father,  a  Heavenly 
Friend,  whom  he  had  doubted  and  for 
saken.  Would  that  Father  receive  him, 
should  he  turn  unto  him  in  true  peni 
tence  of  heart  ?  "  Our  Father  who  art 
in  Heaven,"  is  the  prayer  that  our  Sa 
viour  has  fashioned  for  the  lips  of  sinful 
men ;  so  thought  Mr.  Penfold,  and,  as  a 


THE   WEST   INDIA   BOYS.  143 

lost  and  wandering  son,  he  sought  the 
face  of  the  great  God  of  Heaven. 

No  earthly  forgiveness  is  so  full,  so 
free,  so  loving,  as  that  which  our  Lord 
and  Saviour  joyfully  grants  to  his  re 
pentant  children. 

"  As  far  as  the  east  is  from  the  west, 
so  far  hath  he  removed  our  transgres 
sions  from  us.  Like  as  a  father  pitieth 
his  children,  so  the  Lord  pitieth  them 
that  fear  him." 


